Fishing Monthly Magazine | September 2024 by Fishing Monthly

• SPRING FISHING IS HERE AT LAST • TESTED

Haines Hunter 535 Sport Fish with 130hp Yamaha

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Features

Muddy treasures: yakking for gummies • Logan River kayaking • Starlo: Keeping up with fashion • Boat Test: Haines Hunter 535 with Yamaha 130hp • Local area reports •

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT

Tom Wilson hunts through muddy waters for gummy sharks

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From the Editor’s Desk... As this issue goes to print, the AFTA Tackle Show is ready to open its doors at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre. It’s the biggest show to date and by the time this hits the shelves, we expect a record crowd will have been to see what the industry has to offer. Thanks to the Queensland Government, entry was free to all of the tackle junkies and the next issue will have all of the results of the Best of Show awards – both the industry-voted and the public-voted best products. There is always a fair overlap between

the two groups, but it’s interesting to see what differences there are between the stores and retail customers’ perceptions of the new gear. So next issue will be full of new stuff for anglers all across the country. GOING POSTAL Thanks to all of the readers who reached out in empathy for the challenges that we are facing with the phenomenal Australia Post price rises. As an update, an average subscriber issue now costs $2.87 to mail out. When I started worrying about the price increases they were under a

dollar a piece. TESTING TIMES If you haven’t checked it out yet, remember that Fishing Monthly has an active YouTube channel where we primarily publish video boat tests of the rigs you read about in the magazines, but we also do same-day AFTA coverage, which is very popular. You’ll be able to see our 2024 videos there and if you sign up for notifications, it’ll let you know each time there’s new content to watch. Just search for Fishing Monthly on YouTube and, until next month, tight lines.

Spencer Holmes wrangled and released this 90cm flathead on the Tweed River recently on a Samaki Relic DS60 in crystal prawn colour. A Spencer Holmes image.

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Muddy treasures: gummy

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FEATURE

Species

FMM

Muddy treasures: yakking for gummy sharks VICTORIA

Tom Wilson

The expansive mud flats of Western Port Bay are loaded with hidden potential. At first glance it may be hard to fathom why so many kayakers flock to fish this featureless pocket in the northeastern quarter of the system. It is because beneath the murky surface is a thriving ecosystem that presents anglers with a special opportunity. Catching gummy sharks in very shallow water is a thrilling

endeavour that can be enjoyed in Western Port all year round. MUDDY SHALLOWS When you arrive at a classic Western Port location, like Jam Jerrup or Grantville, it doesn’t feel like you are in the shark fishing zone. Kilometres of still brown water present a seemingly barren landscape that could easily deter the uninitiated. The shallow, muddy edges make for a tricky launch, which is why you’ll see many more kayaks in the area than larger vessels. Deep channels snake

A nice little gummy on a sunny autumn morning.

Gummy sharks are such amazing creatures when you see them up close. Main photo: Muddy mangroves on the east side of Western Port bay. 8 SEPTEMBER 2024

their way through the flats pushing water in and draining it out of this fiercely tidal system. The channels do fish well at times, but it’s in the shallows that I like to target cruising sharks that are hunting crustaceans in the soft mud. A vast range of catchable species frequent the mudflats, which always makes the fishing fun. The mediumsized gummy sharks that I target can be caught all year round along with small school sharks and banjo sharks that are less desirable. Snapper and elephant fish are seasonal visitors to the area, and they are both fun to target and

welcome as by-catch. Full grown gummy sharks are not often seen on this side of the bay, which supports my theory that the area is a kind of shark nursery. While you’re not likely to haul in a record-breaking gummy in these parts, fish around 1m in length are plentiful. Many anglers would agree that fish this size are perfect for a feed of fresh flake. TURBULENT WATERS Kayak fishing for gummy sharks is a bait fishing game and to pull it off effectively, your tide management needs to be on point. The tidal shift in Western

Species FEATURE

FMM Port Bay is huge and if you get the timing wrong, you could find yourself caught in a strong current or stranded in sticky mud. Fishing through a tide change is the best way to manage the current and the high tide has always been my preferred. If I launch my kayak two hours before the high tide, I can fish for four hours and retrieve my vessel comfortably before the water level drops too low. All species come up onto the mudflat to feed through the high tide, so it is a great time to target them in the shallows. Anchoring a kayak in flowing water can be challenging but there are a few simple tricks to make the process easier. An anchor trolley is the pulley system connected to the side of a kayak that

lie of the anchor, giving you a better connection with the bottom. Once the anchor is set you will feel the nose of your kayak swing toward the direction of current or wind and you will be in position to send some baits! BAIT AND TACKLE Gummy sharks have an astonishing sense of smell. They will travel a great

Sunrise is the author’s favourite time to be on the water. allows you to send the connection point to the front or rear of the vessel. Being attached at the pointy end of a boat is essential for safe and comfortable fishing. The big challenge in this particular environment is getting your anchor to hold in the soft mud. A friendly kayaker once gave me the tip that a metre of heavy chain attached to the anchor helps a lot. This will cause the anchor to drag horizontally, giving the protruding flukes a better angle to catch in the mud. A 10m length of rope is adequate for fishing these shallow flats and you don’t want to be weighed down with more rope than you need. Letting out most of the length will help with the horizontal

No one would be disappointed with a snapper by-catch!

The stomach contents of a gummy shark give away their feeding preferences. distance to find a tactfully selected bait and, for the Western Port mudflats, I have two clear favourites: Large banana prawns and fresh squid. The prawns may seem like

THE LINE-UP JUST GOT BIGGER!

“HEAVY HITTER” “THE JERK” “THE IMPOSTER” Adding to the lineup the Heavy Hitter is now available in a 3, 4 and 5.5inch model. With maximum action at all speeds the Heavy Hitter is the lure you send in when you need to get the job done!

The new 5inch and 7inch Jerk fills the niche for anglers craving a larger Jerk in the CrushCity range. Perfect for pelagic species right through to inshore predators like Flathead and Snapper.

At 4.5inches long the new Imposter is the perfect prawn imitation. Super versatile the new Imposter can be rigged on a standard jig head or skipped it into the structure on a weedless hook.

7”

5.5”

5”

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3” Rapala Australia

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WHAT’S NEW FISHING

SHIMANO BANTAM UNDULATOR 88F

The Shimano Undulator lipless crankbait boasts a tight, vibratory swimming action that’s effective at all retrieve speeds, but truly shines when worked slowly. Its unique design allows it to be bumped into the bottom, particularly in rocky areas, and then paused to rise slowly, creating an undulating motion that drives fish wild. The lure’s translucent body contains a foil mirror suspended on small, sensitive springs, enabling captivating flashes to be seen when the lure wobbles. Even when stationary in the strike-zone, the Flash Boost technology emits a continuous and enticing flash that increases visibility, particularly in bright conditions near the surface. This enhanced visibility and pulsing flash greatly improve strike rates. Designed for use in and around underwater cover, the Undulator is built to withstand the toughest conditions, and its lipless design and top connection significantly reduces the risk of snagging on timber or rocks. www.fish.shimano.com

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NEW MERCURY EFI 4-STROKES AND PROKICKER

Mercury’s new 8hp and 9.9hp EFI FourStroke and 9.9hp EFI ProKicker outboards include battery-free EFI for manual-start models, a more powerful alternator, and more. These engines deliver up to 27% better fuel economy than earlier carbureted models in the same hp range, and provide an extra hour of runtime at 3,500rpm using a 12L tank. Pound for pound, these outboards produce more top-end hp than prior-generation carbureted engines, and weigh less than most EFI outboards in their class. The 9.9hp EFI is available with remote or tiller controls, manual or power trim. The 8hp EFI comes with an easy-to-use tiller allowing for one-hand control of shifting and throttle. Manual tilt-models can adjust trim and tilt by pushing down on the tiller handle, with the tiller also including a stop button, throttle friction adjustment knob and steering friction lever. Vibration and sound-dampening materials deliver a smooth and quiet driving experience. The 9.9hp EFI ProKicker offers all these benefits plus a high-thrust, 4-blade prop for superior control. The new model is 5kg lighter than its predecessor, and has a heavy-duty Command Thrust gearcase and standard power tilt. For more information and specs, visit the Mercury Marine website. www.mercurymarine.com.au

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NEW X-RAP 3 SALTWATER COLOURS

The Rapala X-Rap Saltwater has long been considered a go-to lure by many anglers. With its famous wounded baitfish action and amazing finishes, the Rapala X-Rap Saltwater can be used to target a host of Australian fish species. It is hard to improve on a classic like the X-Rap Saltwater, but Rapala Australia has done just this by introducing four new Aussie colours to the X-Rap Saltwater 10 range. These colours are: gold alburnus, Halloween, chartreuse live roach, and purple prawn UV. These new colours complement the current range and provide anglers a colour option to suit any fishing condition. Price: SRP $25.95 www.rapala.com.au

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DAIWA 24 CERTATE SW

Now available in 5000-18000 sizes, the 24 Certate SW is ready to rumble and tackle fresh and saltwater species across Australia. Certate SW shares its Monocoque body (MQ) with the famous 20 Saltiga, which houses the incredibly large G1 Duralumin drive gear, also shared with the 20 Saltiga. Equipped with Daiwa’s Zaion rotor design, Certate SW is light and strong and delivers up to 40g of weight saving when compared to 20 Saltiga. The rotation of Certate SW is incredibly light and responsive. Certate SW comes equipped with a Magsealed line roller and Magseal body. When combined with the MQ construction, this ensures the Certate SW is supremely well sealed to the elements. The multi-layer carbon drag delivers ten times increased drag durability compared to 16 Catalina. The new washer design, combined with the aluminium radiation drag knob, increases heat dissipation, improving drag performance under heavy load. High speed models (8000-18000) come equipped with a soft-touch, highgrip, egg-shaped knob that delivers grip and comfort for the sweeping motions of working a surface lure. Slow speed models have an EVA Power Round Knob suitable for the up and down working of vertical jigs. All 5000-6000 size models feature an EVA Power Round Knob. www.daiwafishing.com.au

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SAMAKI SALTAN RODS

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The Samaki Saltan rod range redefines what an offshore rod can be, for those who believe ‘weekend warrior’ is a title earned, not given. Skillfully crafted with premium composite blanks, each Saltan model offers unparalleled action. Further reinforced with X-Weave carbon technology in the butt section and equipped with legendary Fuji components, this rod delivers both premium performance and rugged durability. The Saltan is available in three specialized sub-series: Reef, Boat, and Jig, ensuring that no matter the challenge, you’re armed to the teeth. www.samaki.com.au

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ZMAN RATTLE-SNAKER

ZMan’s new Rattle-Snaker lets you insert a glass rattle into your soft plastic for added attraction and strike triggers. An ingenious hollow needle and pushrod design makes this insertion process quick and simple. Simply push the needle into the soft plastic, remove the rear section of the tool, and drop the rattle point first into the front (needle section) of the tool that remains in the plastic. You can then reinsert the rear section of the tool, and the pushrod slides the rattle into place. Remove the RattleSnaker from the plastic, and you’re done. A flip-top compartment in the rear section of the tool lets you store additional glass rattles, and the Rattle-Snaker comes ready to go with 10 glass rattles included. Replacement rattles are also available. A surgical tubing needle guard is fitted onto the stainless-steel needle for safe storage. This exciting innovation is sure to be a game-changer, especially in low-light conditions, when the water is dirty, and when the bite is tough. Price: Tool and 10 rattles: SRP $23.95, 10-pack replacement rattles: SRP $9.95 www.z-man.com.au

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Head high or low depending on the conditions SYDNEY ROCK & BEACH

Alex Bellissimo alex@bellissimocharters.com.au

The cool winds will continue this month, with the traditional westerly winds, sou’westers and cold northerlies keeping the temperatures down. Some days should be nice and balmy, though. If you haven’t brushed the dust off your gear yet, now is the time to do it, as there are some good prospects available. Let’s look at what’s biting in September. ROCK FISHING Rock blackfish (aka black drummer or pigs) are quite reliable

also encounter luderick, bream and groper (remember that all groper must be released). Other possible catches include leatherjackets (normally the 6-spine ones), bream and even trevally. When you consider the huge variety of species you can catch off the rocks, it’s pretty impressive. Sometimes you’ll catch most of them in one day. You can encounter two opposite sea conditions: really flat seas or massive swell, normally from the south (with the occasional large northeasterly swell). When there’s a west or northwesterly wind, the seas are

Greham Vesey, Steve White and Peter White with a bag of trevally caught on a guided trip with the author. Lots of fish were released as well. in the cool waters at the moment. The best time to target rock blackfish is the half run-in to about two hours out in the tide. Silver drummer are often caught alongside the pigs, as they inhabit similar terrain. You may

typically flat or nearly flat. In these conditions, you can fish most spots off the rocks, but sometimes it’s so flat that the fishing is poor. On really glassed-out days, you need to be there when the light is low so the shy pigs aren’t reluctant to be on the chew.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, you can have seas over 2-2.5m – sometimes reaching as high as 4m. Most anglers won’t fish in these conditions, and rightly so. In many locations, large sea conditions are best left for advanced rock fishers. There are some safer options, though. One option is to fish the high ledges like Warriewood or South Curl Curl high ledges. They are around 7-9m above the ocean, so they can be fished in relative safety in up to about a 3.5m swell. Both can be fished in a southerly swell and south/south-west wind direction. During flat conditions there is a smorgasbord of spots. One good location to try is Little Bluey at Manly, which has some great ledges. Weed baits for luderick and rock blackfish can be a great option, because pickers like toadfish and kelpfish can demolish prawns and cunjevoi baits. Weed baits are less likely to catch undesirable species, although the downside is you may get fewer bites on the outing. I recommend fishing your weed baits under a small bobby float, no. 1/0-2/0 double-strength hook, and fluorocarbon leader (I use 6-10kg J-Thread X-Link). While fishing the high ledges, you’ll want to have a heavier outfit and heavier leader/braid, or straightthrough mono. Fish 12kg or slightly heavier, because you may need to wind up sizeable pigs. This cannot be done on lighter gear. Trevally Trevally are one of the main species still in the washes, mixed in with some snapper, bream, Aussie salmon and tarwhine. It’s not the peak season for trevally, but they’re still in good numbers. They prefer

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While fishing for wash species, Jacob Rolls caught this mixed bag of snapper, trevally, slimy mackerel, and a delicious red rock cod.

John Halford with a well-earned bag of rock blackfish. He and the author had to move several times to catch them. During flat conditions fish can go off the bite quickly, especially when you drop a fish. cooler water, and will usually hang around until December, depending on the water temperature. Silver trevally are, without a doubt, one of the best sashimi fish of them all. They also make a great cooked fish, so long as they’re not too big. I recommend keeping the smaller ones between that legal 30cm size to about 40cm. When silver trevally get to about 1.3kg+ they can get the odd parasite, which can change the quality of the flesh. These bigger fish are still safe to eat but not as nice as the smaller ones. Trevally like softer baits like pilchard, peeled prawns, pink nippers, and soft fish baits. They will also eat squid, cuttlefish, and even cut crab at times, but these firmer/ harder baits don’t work quite as well. Berley is important when targeting trevally. If you have seen these fish swimming around in schools, you will notice they swim around quite quickly, covering a lot of water. So, when the berley trail is cut off, they can be gone within minutes. To avoid this, keep a constant trail in the water, rather than berleying intermittently. Like snapper, trevally prefer the deeper headlands, especially when you’re wash fishing. That said, the rock spots that only have 4m or slightly more are still OK at the right time of the day. Little Bluey Manly, South and North Curl Curl, Dee Why, and Long Reef are a few spots that produce

Sydney NSW

FMM

Anglers and boaters enjoy warmer weather SYDNEY SOUTH

Gary Brown gbrown1@iprimus.com.au

Despite the chilly conditions and cold water, plenty of fish have been about for those keen to brave the elements. The rocks have been firing for drummer, bream, trevally, luderick, salmon and tailor. It has just been a matter of picking a window when you can safely fish off the rocks. Try fishing the northeast side of Bare Island, the Kurnell Peninsula, Boat Harbour, Windy Point at Cronulla, Jibbon Point, Coalcliff and the southern end of Stanwell Park Beach. If you prefer to fish the beaches for

only a seasonal prospect, but you can actually catch them all year round. I have had several reports of squid being caught off the rocks, offshore and in the estuaries, so make sure you have a few squid jigs in your tackle bag. If you need a few more you could pop into the BCF store at Taren Point and I can show you our range. Offshore, the bluefin and yellowfin are still on the chew; it’s just a matter of picking the right day with the right conditions. A few of my mates have told me you can go out one day and have it nearly to yourself, and the next day there are so many boats it’s like driving down Pitt Street. Some anglers have been losing a lot of fishing line to other boats that troll over the lines, getting it tangled around their props. One boat had to get towed in because they got so much line around their prop that it jammed up. Botany Bay has started to pick up on the flathead, bream and trevally front. Try the oil wharf on the run-out tide, the end of the third runway on both the run-in and run-out tides, wide of Towra in around 4-5m depth, the end of the 1st runway, the entrance to Woolooware Bay and just off the spit at Dolls Point

State Park. The bass have finished spawning and are moving back up into the freshwater. There may be a few left on the saltwater side of the weir on the Woronora River this month. I have found that spinnerbaits work well on the bass and you don’t tend to get caught on as many snags when using them. Green, red and purple are my preferred colours. The Port Hacking will have started to warm up by now, and this will hopefully make the fish come on the chew. The last time I was on the water it was 15.1°C, and my sounder only reads to about 1m in depth. So, I can’t imagine Greg Cockayne caught this squid on a Yamashita Egi Oh Live 3.5 while fishing off Merries Reef on the northern side of Bate Bay. for those with a boat. Luderick are in numbers off the north and south ends of the Captain Cook Bridge, the southwest side of the Tom Uglys Bridge, Bald Face Point, The northern side of the Como Bridge, the old ferry ramp at Lugarno, Soily Point, The Moons and the Georges River

Matt Stringfellow caught this massive 90kg bluefin on a 37kg Penn International 80T on a custom rod while running a Nomad DTX220 lure in the silver-green mackerel colour.

Koby from Fego’s Tackle World with a well-conditioned Australian salmon from the Port Hacking River. dart, bream, whiting, tailor and salmon, you can try from where the sand meets the rocks at Boat Harbour and all the way down to South Cronulla. I have been using TT Hard Core Plus metals in the 40-60g weights, and whole pilchards on a set of ganged hooks for the tailor and salmon. Live beach worms and pink nippers have been doing the job for the whiting, dart and bream. You could also try using half pilchards or whole whitebait. Many anglers think that squid are quality trevally fishing. BEACH FISHING September isn’t the best time to fish for most of the beach species we normally encounter during the warmer months. Aussie salmon are king of the beach species in this cold-water period, along with short windows of tailor of different sizes. The crack of dawn is the best time to target them, but be aware that the run is generally short. Usually, you’ll get only a 15-20 minute run, then they’re gone. Salmon and tailor respond well to whole fish baits, like a wellpresented blue pilchard, on a set

Rob West from Fergo’s Tackle World managed to find a bluelipped bream while chucking a Samaki Vibelicious Fork Tail soft vibe while walking Silver Beach at Kurnell. of three 3/0 to 4/0 hooks. You can purchase gang hooks at just about any tackle shop. If you want to avoid using bait, just bring a few metal slugs/slices in your kit. A good outfit for salmon and tailor is a 3-6kg line class reel (e.g. a Saltist MQ 4000 to 5000) with 10-12lb braid and 12-16lb fluorocarbon leader. Half a dozen metal slugs from 20-30g will suffice. Stock a carry bag with your scissors, cloth, lure box, and scissors, and you’re set to go. Walk from gutter to gutter, and when you find the salmon, you will have the time of your life. They’re super fun fish on light gear, especially when they get

to 60cm+. Trevally are also an option on some beaches, and you may encounter some sizeable tarwhine, too. If you want to get a mix of tarwhine, trevally, and the odd whiting or bream, try using prawns (preferably peeled). Beach worms are awesome baits as well, and yabbies are also effective. Tarwhine are seldom caught on fish baits; they prefer crustaceans and worm baits. Your whiting gear will be suitable for these smaller species. September can vary from year to year; some years the snapper are quite good distance casting, and some years a cold water run of whiting

what it was down on the bottom. Leatherjackets are still plentiful in the Port and are chewing up lots of soft plastics. When this starts to happen, many anglers switch to metal vibes and hardbody lures. You can also use tougher soft plastics, such as the ZMan range. The leatherjackets don’t tend to make a mess of those. Until next month, don’t forget to keep those reports and pictures coming in to gbrown1@iprimus.com.au. will turn up. Generally, however, you can expect the species I have mentioned above. • Alex Bellissimo is an experienced rock fishing guide with proven teaching formulas. If you’re an experienced angler, he will bring your abilities to new heights. And if you’re new to rock fishing, Alex will teach you all the fundamentals so you can consistently catch fish – and stay safe at the same time. All tackle and bait is supplied. To find out more, visit www. bellissimocharters.com.au, email alex@bellissimocharters.com.au, or call Alex on 0408 283 616. AUGUST 2024 49

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A fresh start and a different perspective PORT PHILLIP BAY WEST

Jordan Matthews

G’day folks! My name is Jordan Mathews and I will be covering the Western suburbs of Melbourne each month for Fishing Monthly readers. I am taking over from my good friend Alan Bonnici, who has been writing this section for the last seven years. I’m originally a bluewater nut from Sydney but have been living in Melbourne since 2012, and sampling the great fishing that Melbourne and the state of Victoria provides. I hope that my reports will help you in planning your next fishing trip and achieve success. WHAT’S BITING Fishing in the colder months can be a little tough, as the action tends to slow down. Still, there’s a variety of options for anglers who are willing to brave the cold. Princes Pier and Williamstown have been fishing well for those wishing to target fish close to the city, with plenty of pinkies on the bite. While there are a lot

Kevin Sun with a nice pinkie snapper caught at Portarlington.

the surface chasing small baitfish. Any kind of small baitfish pattern lure will get you onto a few of these fish; just be mindful that there’s an active shipping lane nearby that you don’t want to get caught up in when a large container ship passes through! The Warmies has seen the power station operating consistently over the last couple of months, with plenty of tailor being caught. Pilchards are the most consistent way to catch these toothy little critters. With so many tailor around and the pumps running consistently, there should be odd decent mulloway amongst the tailor schools, as tailor are one of the favourite prey for large mulloway.

of undersized fish around, better models in the 30-40cm range can be found, with the odd proper snapper mixed in amongst them. The tricky part is getting one of those bigger fish out of the structure before getting busted off. We’ve found that Berkley 4” Turtleback Worms and Munroe’s Curl-Tail Worms have

A brace of Wurdiboluc redfin caught by Robbie Tarnay.

Oakley Lefosh with a brown trout caught on the troll at Pykes Creek Reservoir.

been the best options for targeting these fish. For more information on how to fish Princes Pier for pinkies, you can visit my YouTube channel (Fishin With Jordy) and watch one of my latest uploads. Only a few minutes’ boat ride from the Poles towards the shipping channel, large schools of decent-sized Australian salmon have been busting

Further to the west, around the Werribee South area, southern calamari have been a reliable target, along with the occasional nice flathead in the 50-60cm range. Local fisho Travis Smith has been consistently catching both species in 6-10m of water straight out from Werribee River and Wyndham Harbour. He advises that drifting

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September is an exciting time to hit the water PHILLIP ISLAND

Craig Edmonds

With the arrival of September, we can finally say goodbye to winter for another year. We shouldn’t expect everything to be sunshine and daisies, though; we may need to wait another month or so to reap the benefits. September is a busy month for Westernport Bay anglers. It’s the time when we take the covers off the boat, pull the kayak down from storage, and pull our fishing gear out from the corner of the shed. Water temperatures are slowly rising, and many fish are becoming more active. It’s an exciting time, especially for those anglers who don’t fancy winter fishing. As a bonus, all the new products revealed at the AFTA tackle trade show are starting to hit the shelves, just in time for what will hopefully be a bountiful season. Before you hit the water, be sure to check all your gear that was stored away during winter. If you own a boat, check your safety gear, making sure all expiry dates are correct on signalling equipment like flares, EPIRBs and lifejackets. Many people don’t know will help you locate patches of both calamari and flathead, and recommends using white 3.0 jigs for the squid and strips of freshlycaught squid for the flathead. While we’re still a fair way off from snapper season, there have been a number of resident fish caught in the southern areas of the bay for those willing to brave the cold and put in the hours in. Kevin Sun is one of those anglers putting in the hard yards, and has been rewarded with snapper up to 70cm at Portarlington. He has been catching most of his fish on pilchards, and has earned his nickname of ‘The Snapper Sultan’ by finding fish all year round. In the freshwater, trout season has been in full swing in the stocked impoundments (it has been closed season in the flowing rivers and streams). Wurdiboluc Reservoir has been fishing very well, with great catches of rainbow trout, brown trout and redfin perch for those willing to put in the time. Robbie Tarnay has been scoring solid trout pushing 70cm and redfin over the magical 50cm mark, as well as plenty of smaller fish. Closer to Melbourne there has been some great trout fishing at Pykes Creek Reservoir. Rylie Lefosh and his son Oakley have been doing exceptionally well, trolling and casting Tasmanian Devil lures and catching brown trout up to 50cm.

that inflatable PFDs have an expiry date – not just on the canaster but the entire jacket. These can vary depending on the manufacturer. If you still run the old foam PFDs, check the condition of the foam, and all the buckles and stitches. For locals with expired flares, there’s a registered disposal point inside the Wonthaggi police station. Expired flares are no longer accepted elsewhere. Another thing for boaties to do is to check all oil levels, the condition of the bungs, battery charge and exposed wires, making sure a rodent hasn’t made your wires a chew toy over winter. For all other tackle, it’s important to check your rods and reels thoroughly. Inspect your line for signs of wear, and re-spool if needed. Check rods for broken or missing tips/guides as these repairs can take 1-2 weeks, and you want to be prepared for when the fish are on. September in Westernport Bay is the official ‘season opener’. Many larger snapper begin their journey back to the bay, and the spring whiting come in larger numbers than the fatter, winter ones we have

been seeing. The whiting behaviour depends on the temperature, but from now and into summer those chasing whiting need to be on the water in the morning or evening. There is more activity during these times. Once we get to the time of year when the sun is warmer and you are on the water early, try areas of the bay where there is shallow water. Dickies Bay and Cleeland Bight tend to be good options, and I recommend fishing in less than 8m of water. If you want to fish during the middle of the day, try areas with deeper water, such as Rhyll Hole or towards Corinella, in depths of 8m+. A cocktail bait is still the best option for targeting Westernport Bay whiting. If you haven’t heard of a cocktail bait before, it means running different bait species on the same hook. Traditionally, this means a bit of pipi and a sliver of whiting, but you can switch it up and use some pilchard and squid or peeled prawn and squid. We have been seeing a spike in action off Rhyll throughout the day and during the evening, in depths of around 8-10m. Flathead have been

away. There will be some excellent fish getting around in the shallow areas, providing great opportunities for land-based and kayak anglers to hook into a decent snapper. As the water temperatures continue to rise over the coming months, we should also see more good-size flathead, whiting and gummy sharks start moving into shallower waters. This should provide some great fishing for anglers fishing from the shore. No doubt I will be getting out to chase some of these fish, and I will bring you all the reports as they happen. If you see me out there, come and say g’day!

The author with a pinkie from the yak at Princes Pier. Pink and gold/black coloured Tassies have been consistent options. FISHING IN SPRINGTIME As water temperatures rise in the coming weeks, we can expect some excellent fishing. In the freshwater, the yellowbelly will start becoming more active, and with cod closed season in our region only affecting the Yarra, we can expect impoundments like Melton Reservoir to produce more Murray cod. There is also the VFA’s ‘Stonkergeddon’ – an annual stocking of oversize rainbow trout along with the smaller, catchable size rainbow trout for the kids to target. This event should happen during the next school holidays. In the saltwater, the renowned Melbourne snapper season is only weeks

caught in better numbers and sizes than we have seen for most of winter, although there are still plenty of tiny ones around. Offshore, the flathead reports are very patchy. It’s the usual story of catching either a bag of 35cm+ flatties or a decent handful of 45cm+ fish. Remember, just because they were there yesterday doesn’t mean they’ll be there tomorrow. Calamari catches have improved in recent weeks, with more consistent numbers being reported (although the larger calamari from winter are less common). You can target them in areas around Cleeland Bight sand dune from a boat, and the Cowes and San Remo jetties. The favourite jig colour is still white in the 3.5 size, followed by fluoro orange and fluoro pink. On a clear day, try using a solid black jig if there isn’t too much weed. Black is a very underrated colour for a squid jig but it can be very effective! With more fish coming on the bite and the snapper due to arrive soon, it’s time to get out and take advantage of fishing Westernport Bay in spring. It’s also the perfect time to get some smaller fish species, which make excellent bait.

READER’S

PICTURE

Stephanie King has been doing well on the sailfish in Exmouth.

SEPTEMBER 2024 75

West Coast

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Spring is the start of hot beach fishing LANCELIN

Peter Fullarton

After a mid-year hiatus when the beach fishing can slow through winter, September heralds spring and the start of some hot beach fishing. Beaches start to widen and become much easier to drive on

season to open on the 21st. There’s a lot of ways to go about landing a sambo, knife jigs on the lumps in the 20’s usually finds a lot of smaller fish 5-10kg range at this time of year, whereas live baits or trolling minnow lures inside or along the white bank can find much larger fish 25kg+. Even throwing XL poppers of the jetty at dawn is a good chance to

Chris with a thumping Breaksea cod caught on a 110g Snap Bait.

Spring is greenback tailor time in the gutters and reef breaks. Look for lures that rattle or splash to get their attention in the noisy surf. allowing access to well-formed beach gutters. Swells may be up and down as the last of the season’s storms pass, the calmer spells between are longer and more frequent. Some magic weather for both the boaties and those who like to keep the sand between the toes. Boats will be welcoming a short demersal season opening on 21 September until the 7 October. Lobster will be moving in close so perhaps a time to wet the pots and make the most of the short demersal season to stock the freezer with some quality seafood until the next season begins on the 16 December. At the close of the last demersal season, we saw a lot more fish distributed throughout the depth ranges. With an uptick of breaksea cod and dhufish in the shallower depths, giving great access to these prized species for the smaller boats. Pink snapper will be a good option for kayaks as a good berley trail near reef can produce some great fish even for the shore-based anglers. Skippy are also a sucker for the berley trail both species are ravenously hungry while they prepare for breeding season developing eggs. Samson fish are also on the patrol around the inshore reefs or even the within the bay – they’e something to target while waiting for the demersal 94 SEPTEMBER 2024

hook one up! Spring will bring big numbers of small bluefin tuna and bonito schools, larger yellowfin tuna will be shadowing the schools. Trolling larger lures or even a live bonito around the perimeter of the feeding tuna is well worth the effort to try find one of those yellowfin often in the 15-30kg range! The bay has been very productive and the cooler months the water

More of those tasty demersals: a pair of dhufish. What better way to finish off the bag for the day!

Eric with a beautiful silver midday mulloway. Follow the high tide for the peak bite with schoolies.

is crystal clear. You can chase any number of target species and find success catching tarwhine, King George whiting, skippy, squid, flathead, garfish, herring, leather jackets or even blue swimmer crabs at this time of year. The main secret to success is to focus, concentrating on the right location with the right baits or lures and techniques for the target species. Fishers who just go to try catch ‘just any fish’ will have less chance of success. Obviously, you are not going to catch a feed of garfish casting weighted 2/0 hooks with a chunk of pilchard, trying to catch a skippy. Be prepared and adjust the plan throughout a session, be observant if you see some surface swirls out the back of the burly trail flick out a size 10 longshank hook under a pencil float with a small piece of prawn the session may become

North Coast

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Plenty of opportunities for Exmouth anglers EXMOUTH

Barry Taylor

This month’s report has been supplied by Murray. Overall, the fishing has been good over the past month. We’ve been seeing good catches of marlin on the west side, including a run of larger black marlin. The blacks have been bigger than usual for this time of year, with models up to 300lb being reported. Manta rays, which are making

Barramundi in Yardie Creek. This is a snapshot of a video taken by @indepthanglerjosh.

their annual migration, have arrived off our part of the coast, bringing cobia with them. Plenty of cobia up to 50lb have been caught on a range of artificials, with the most popular option being 4” soft plastics. The Spanish mackerel have turned up, with plenty being caught on lures and trolled gar on the west side and north up around the islands. Anglers have been catching good numbers of squid in the Gulf and west side in the lagoons in the shallows. A stand-out jig at the moment is the new Shimano Clinch in size 3-3.5. Deep dropping in depths from around 150-350m has been quite productive lately for ruby snapper, 8-bar cod and gold-band snapper. Most of the crews these days use big electric reels to bring the fish up quickly, thereby losing fewer fish to sharks. In winter the red emperor come into shallow water to breed, and spearos have been getting good reds anywhere from 12-20m. Whiting have been coming out of Wapet Creek, and the Learmonth jetty and Bundegi jetty have also been

Lucas with a Spanish caught on a guided trip with Maccy Dave. Image courtesy of @maccydave. fishing well for whiting, mangrove jacks, bream and queenfish. • For the latest news on what’s biting and where, drop in to Tackle World Exmouth at 3 Maley St, Exmouth or call them on (08) 9949 1315. You can also view the range at www.tackle-

worldexmouth.com.au, and see the latest catch photos on their Facebook page. This family business stocks a large range of tackle, from light spin to big game. The staff have a wealth of local knowledge and expertise, and are always happy to help.

FISHING NEWS

Illegal fishing in Ningaloo Marine Park The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s (DPIRD) Operation Crater Lake was conducted over 12 days in June targeted illegal fishing in the Ningaloo Marine Park. As a result of the operation, three Exmouth men aged 35, 31 and 27

a fish a cast landing one garfish after another. Beach casters have many species to consider as a target too. School size mulloway have been in the gutters, mostly 60-85cm range. Smaller baits like fillet strip baits or whiting work best on these smaller fish, suitably sized so the fish can engulf the whole bait in one bite. Mulloway don’t cut up the baits to bite size pieces like tailor, they are looking for something they can swallow whole! Whereas on the open beaches you’re more likely to encounter a shark or larger mulloway 1m plus so larger baits are the go whole herring or small mullet.

pleaded guilty to spearfishing from a recreational boat in the waters of Bundegi Sanctuary Area in the Ningaloo Marine Park and not holding a current recreational boat fishing licence. The trio were fined a combined total of $4715 and costs of $818 in Exmouth Magistrates Court. The court also ordered the forfeiture of fishing gear including three spearguns, a knife and esky. In a statement to the court, DPIRD fisheries officers reported observing the men spearfishing in the waters of Bundegi Sanctuary Area. An inspection of the boat at Bundegi Boat Ramp revealed a catch of 10 demersal finfish and one tropical rock lobster. The offenders were locals, not

tourists, and the rock lobster catch was a repeat offence. DPIRD Supervising Fisheries and Marine Officer Darren Schofield said Operation Crater Lake resulted in the detection of 37 recreational fishing

Chris with a good size and very sweet eating fox fish.

offences in total. More information on fishing rules is available from www.fish.gov.au, and suspected illegal fishing activity can be reported to 1800 815 507 or via the DPIRD website. - DPIRD Targeting tailor you will find the opposite, the larger fish will be in the gutters and smaller fish on the open beaches. Fishing the gutters I would use lures with a lot of splash and or rattle to attract the tailor in a noisy low visibility environment. On the open beaches smaller lures like the CID Spratt in 75mm or a gang of 4/0 hooks and pilchard bait will catch a mixed bag of herring and tailor. Drone fishers will be able to fish on for demersals during the boat ban. Recent weeks has seen a spate of dhufish coming off drone drops along with the usual pink snapper, sharks and rays. SEPTEMBER 2024 95

BREAM QLD OPEN presented by

BREAM QUEENSLAND OPEN

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McKeown wins Second Samaki BREAM Open Jamie McKeown proved yet again that he is a force to be reckoned with in BREAM Open events, winning the 2024 iteration of the ultimate Queensland BREAM event - The Samaki BREAM Queensland Open. Fished over two days on a two part arena, anglers fished the Gold Coast waters on Day 1 followed by a day on Moreton Bay on Day 2. And like happens in so many ABT events, sponsor karma showed its hand, rewarding the Samaki-sponsored angler with a win. McKeown has been taking it easy this year in his local weekend events and has been focussing on the larger targets. His 2nd in. The Australian Open this year and this Queensland Open win tends to validate his choices. For the win, he took home $5,000 and “Geoff”, the perpetual bronze bream trophy that will hold pride of place on the mantelpiece for the next 12 months. Here’s how he did it. Day 1: 5/5, 3.567kg Day 2: 5/5, 3.805kg Total: 10/10, 7.372kg Over the years, McKeown

Jamie Mckeown added another Samaki BREAM Queensland Open win to his growing list of of ABT titles. has perfected a couple of techniques which tend to drag larger bream from the canals. He won his first Queensland Open on an OSP Bent Minnow nearly exclusively, but this time he employed a detuned ZipBait to catch the majority of his fish.

Jamie fished exclusively the ZipBait Khamsin Jr on day one in the far northern canals of the Gold Coast. He reported large numbers of fish, yet it was a final upgrade with seven minutes of fishing to go right near the start line that gave him an early lead.

Jamie focused his efforts in the Canals both days of the Open working a crankbait pattern.

Place 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 102 SEPTEMBER 2024

BOATER RESULTS Angler Fish Jamie McKeown 10/10 Harry Schofield 10/10 Luke Rogan 10/10 Chris Lonne 10/10 Steve Morgan 10/10 Peter Cashman 10/10 Michael Slade 10/10 Mitch Ferris 10/10 Billy Lawson 10/10 Bernard Kong 10/10

Full results at abt.org.au

Weight(kg) 7.372kg 6.368kg 6.036kg 5.837kg 5.786kg 5.780kg 5.572kg 5.449kg 5.077kg 4.973kg

Payout $5,000 $2,500 $2,000 $1,500

Scan the QR code to watch Jamie McKeown’s Interview

Positioning the boat parallel to the front of the pontoons, Jamie would cast the bait past the structure and slow wind it back. The de-tuned bait would swim underneath the shade, which is when the bream would bite. He fished the crankbaits on a Samaki C12 rod and X Braid upgrade line (PE 0.6, 14lb) and a 6lb fluorocarbon leader. He also upgraded the hooks on the ZipBait to stronger Decoys. “The first day I caught so many fish, so I just went through the numbers to get the upgrades I needed,” Jamie said, but it was the strategy on Day two that ultimately got the job done. On the Sunday, he noted the westerly winds and imagined that the direction would impede his plan to fish Amity Point channels with crabs. Instead he turned left at the channel junction and fished the Raby Bay canals within sight of the start line. It was here that he eventually landed a string of 30cm+ fish and accrued the biggest limit of the event on a combination of topwater baits and the same cranking technique as Day 1.

BREAM QLD OPEN presented by His topwater was an OSP Bent Minnow that he fished on a 701 Samaki Zing Xtreme V3 rod and Daiwa Freams reel spooled with the same X Braid and leader that he fished the crankbait with. “Each pontoon I’d throw the topwater first down behind the structure under the walkway and if that wasn’t successful, I’d follow it up with a crank along the front,” Jamie explained. Ultimately, the one-two punch gave him more than enough quality fish to win the event by a kilogram and cemented the ‘sponsor karma’ folklore amongst the competing anglers. SCHOFIELD SNARES SECOND PLACE Harry Schofield (whose nickname is little ‘h’) posted his best ever ABT boater finish in his runner up placing at the Open. He weighed a couple of consistent, quality bags to top the rest of the anglers, who were all bunched up in a pack, a kilo behind McKeown. And like McKeown,

BREAM QUEENSLAND OPEN

abt

Harry worked out a fast retrieve was the ticket to getting the bigger bream in the school to bite. Scan the QR code to watch Harry Schofield’s Interview

nothing earth-shattering until he landed a 35.5cm fork length fish on a plastic on the change of tide by soaking it on the

This is Harry’s best finish to date in an ABT BREAM event as a boater. crankbaiting pontoons in canals with detuned crankbaits was Little h’s bread and butter. Day 1: 5/5, 3.133kg Day 2: 5/5, 3.235kg Total: 10/10, 6.368kg “I use the Duo Realis 52MR in any of the shiny colours and I fish it pretty fast. Sometimes you think it’s too fast, but the bream come up in packs and just belt it. Sometimes they hit it to stun it and then come back to eat it - it’s a fun way of fishing,” he said. On the first day Schofield fished canal systems at Hollywell and Shearwater, theorising that the pre-spawn fish would be aggregating there before the breeding months. And on Day 2, Harry picked the Raby Bay canals to ply his trade. His limit was

bottom for an agonisingly long time. Harry fished his cranks on a 13 Fishing OMEN 6’6” light rod paired with a 2500 Daiwa reel, PE 0.4 Sufix Egi braid and an 8lb Sufix leader. “That rod is a great all rounder, I use it for the plastics fishing I do as well, he continued. “When it comes to de-tuning the crankbait, it’s all about tweaking the eyelet in the direction you want the lure to swim, Harry explained, “and I like it to blow out of the water in about 30cm if I wind it quickly. That’s how detuned it is.” Winning $2,500 for the placing, Harry had already decided that the winnings would be invested in a new

lithium battery for his boat. “Green Marine of course,” he concluded, trying to garner more ABT sponsor karma. ROGAN CRANKS AND CRABS TO 3RD Luke Rogan’s been having quite the run of strong finishes in local BREAM events of late. His third placing at the Queensland Open precluded a win at a Gold Coast Hobie qualifier and more success at local teams level events. His method for success? Would you believe a combination of cranking pontoons, Cranka crabs and topwater bent minnows? South-east Queensland cool water patterns really showed out in this event. Day 1: 5/5, 3.192kg Day 2: 5/5, 2.844kg Total: 10/10, 6.036kg Rogan fished Sovereign Island on the first day of the event with an Imakatsu Wasp bait and a Cranka crab - getting most bites on the jerkbait early and switching to the crab later in the session. “It was an insane day

where I landed around 40 fish,” Rogan explained, “they were biting everything.” Day two was a little less productive, but a lot closer to home for the Brisbane Bayside resident. He was another of the boats dissecting the Raby Bay canal system with Bent Minnows and crankbaits - this time for a dozen legal fish and a sub-3kg limit. Rogan fished a variety of Edge rods that suited the techniques. For the Wasp it was a LMX DSR 7’6” version while the crab rod was an LMX DSR 7’10”. His Bent Minnow rod was a shorter 7’1” model with a softer action. He paired these with Daiwa reels and Toray braid/ leader for the crabs and topwater while he fishes the Wasps on 6lb straight through Toray fluorocarbon. “I don’t usually look at the scoreboard, but my observer let slip that Jamie had a great bag early and I knew I had a lot of work to do,” Luke explained, “unfortunately those big bites never came.”

Luke Rogan is have a great run of strong finishes at BREAM events (both boat and kayak) in 2024. SEPTEMBER 2024 103

BOATING TEST

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Haines Hunter 535 Sport Fish with 130hp Yamaha FMG

Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

Earlier in the year, we had the opportunity to test a couple of Port Phillip Boating Centre’s demo rigs, as well as Haines Hunter’s John Haber’s personal rig. We’ve run a couple of these in the magazine already, and now it’s the turn of a smaller model: the 535 Sport Fish. This sweet little entry-level fibreglass cabin boat is capable of serious inshore and select offshore work. It’s not the smallest in the Sport Fish range – that’s the 495 – however, the 535 can easily be towed on a single-axle trailer and with a standard family vehicle. As such, it’s right in the hitting zone for buyers

SPECIFICATIONS Length ............................................. 5.35m Beam ................................................... 2.2m Height ................................................1.92m Hull weight...................................650kg Max HP...................................................130 Fuel ........................................................120L

“When I started a boat dealership, there were only two brands that I wanted to be associated with,” Phil said, “Growing up down here as a young fella, we’d always had Haines Hunters and Yamahas in the family, and they never let us down.” He went on to say that his boat

driving them,” Phil continued, after explaining that they are eminently seaworthy and capable of chasing tuna well offshore on the right day. We believe these boats would be right at home in the bays and rivers of Australia, offering shade and comfort in sufficient quantity to get the family

Transom Deadrise .......................... 21° looking to transition up to their first fibreglass hull. Phil and his team at PPBC have been both Haines Hunter and Yamaha dealers for over 20 years. Those sorts of relationships aren’t exactly common in the marine industry, so I found it easy to understand why Phil Petridis and his team were so passionate about the brands.

Main: Haines Hunter’s 535 Sport Fish is ideal for anglers wanting to step up to a fibreglass boat while still having some creature comforts for the family. Above: This hull has fairly high gunwales, allowing both inshore and light offshore use.

There was a broad, economical cruising range with 3,500 to 5,000rpm, delivering 1.6-1.7km/L. 106 SEPTEMBER 2024

is based on the old Haines V17 hull, which is why the ride has stood the test of time. The 535 definitely doesn’t have all of the bells and whistles of some of the larger Haines Hunters, but you have to remember that those rigs are twice the price of the test boat. “We see the 535s everywhere – they’re only limited by the person

out and about on dad’s fishing boat. Powered by a Yamaha F130 4-stroke outboard, the running costs are economical. In the cruising speed range, she offers 1.6-1.7km/L burned, and surprisingly, that figure doesn’t drop too much when it comes to running at wide open throttle. 130 is the maximum horsepower rated for this hull. The test day was a little

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Top: It’s handy to have the spare wheel as part of the trailer set-up. You never know when you’ll need it. Above: The 21° transom deadrise makes for a smoother ride in choppy water, sacrificing a little stability.

Top: A steep entry point at the bow allows you to cut through chop. Above: Single-axle trailers can be easily manoeuvred in confined spaces, like garages.

It’s an open cabin set-up with no standard privacy screens.

There’s plenty of space in the cockpit with a couple of passenger seats in the stern corners.

Top Left: The bait board is removable if you don’t need it. Top Right: These are clever – underfloor wet storage for gear or fish. Bottom Left: There’s nothing complex about the rear seating; there are no fold-up bench seats like in other rigs. Bottom Right: Some boats have separation from the cabin under the helm; the 535 is open.

Left: The helm is simple and functional, with room for flush-mounted MFDs. Top Right: Keep your rods out of the way with these rocket launchers. Bottom Right: It’s a large cabin for a boat of this length. SEPTEMBER 2024 107

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BOATING TEST

sloppy, but at cruising speeds the ride was comfortable. The test rig was fitted with a bait board that’s removable when doing family activities, and the bunks in the cuddy are long enough to have a rest during the heat of the day or the cold of the night. PERFORMANCE RPM Speed

(km/h)

Economy

(km/L)

Idle ............................ 5 ............................3 1000 .......................... 6 ........................ 2.7 2000 ........................12 ........................2.4 3000 ........................21 .........................1.4 3500 .......................32 ......................... 1.7 4000 .......................42 .........................1.6 5000 .......................56 .........................1.6 5600 ........................61 .........................1.4

Top: The test day was a little lumpy, but the 535 handled it pretty easily. See the test video for full running footage. Above: You can tow the 535 with most vehicles with ease.

A bimini and clears offer plenty of shade, and the gunwales are high enough to keep the kids onboard. There are a couple of simple seats in the corners of the transom in addition to the helm seating for the driver and passenger. The hull features a 21° deadrise, which helps smooth the ride in rough waters. This is a vestige of the hull’s heritage and provides a good compromise between ride and stability. As tested, this rig came in at $83,850, however boat/motor/trailer prices start at $70,690. Contact Phil and the team at Port Phillip Boating Centre on (03) 9369 0099 for more details.

Left: C-section galvanised steel in the trailer allows for easy washdown. Top Middle: You can fit a winch to help deploy and retrieve the anchor. Top Right: You can store some items in the cabin shelves and more stuff under the bunks. Bottom Middle: The test rig ran a Yamaha Stainless Steel propeller. Bottom Right: Side pockets eat up a lot of your fishing and outdoor gear. 108 SEPTEMBER 2024

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03 2/10 03 9369 9369 0099 0099 2/10 Wallace Wallace Ave, Ave, Point Point Cook, Cook, VIC VIC 3030 3030 www.portphillipboatingcentre.com.au www.portphillipboatingcentre.com.au