NSW Fishing Monthly | November 2017 by Fishing Monthly

CATCH MORE CRABS • CRACKING THE BEACH MULLOWAY CODE

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Features • • • •

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Catching more crabs Beach mulloway secrets DIY lure making: Lipless Doc Changing it up

Boating and Kayaking

Tried and tested • •

Kayaks at ICAST • Trip to the Tomaga River • MotorGuide Wireless Xi5 • Essential boat accessories • Kapten Waverider 550CC Sea Jay 4.88 Avenger Sports •

Gunnell Rod Mustad 30L Dry Backpack

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November 2017, Vol. 23 No. 4

Contents BYRON COAST The Tweed 31 Tweed Inshore 30 Ballina 32 Yamba 34 COFFS COAST Coffs Harbour 36 South West Rocks 40 Nambucca 39 MACQUARIE COAST Port Macquarie 42 Forster 44 Harrington-Taree 45

JD ARTIFICAL REEF DEPLOYED It was a real honour to be at the Shimano Australia HQ for the launch of the John Dunphy Artificial Reef, which is now sitting in

place in around 30m of water just south of the entrance of Port Hacking (more information on page 25). In a fitting tribute to the father of the Shimano brand in Australia, NSW Minister

SYDNEY The Hawkesbury 16 Sydney North 18 Pittwater 20 Sydney Harbour 21 Sydney Rock and Beach 22 Botany Bay 24 Sydney South 26 Western Sydney 29

BATEMANS COAST Merimbula 54 Narooma 53 Batemans Bay 55

From the Editor’s Desk...

HUNTER COAST Port Stephens 48 Hunter Coast 46 Swansea 47 Central Coast 49

ILLAWARRA COAST Illawarra 50 Nowra 51

A crane deploys one of the huge concrete structures that make up the John Dunphy Artificial Reef. Image: NSWDPI

for Primary Industries Niall Blair attended the opening function, and unveiled the commemorative plaque at the Shimano headquarters in Caringbah. Also speaking at the opening was Aussie cricketing legend Matthew Hayden, who eloquently conveyed his love for fishing and the great man. A product of funding from the Recreational Fishing Licence Trust, JD Reef is just another in a string of artificial reefs that have been placed or are in the planning phase of construction. The structures themselves are impressive, with some standing up to 9m tall off the sea floor. If the success of other artificial reefs are anything to go by, I’m sure that by the time this magazine is in the shelves, the first inhabitants will have already set up a new one in the structure.

Thank you, JD, for your contribution to fishing in this country, and may your reef provide enjoyment for anglers for many years to come. GONE FISHING DAY GREAT We hope that you all got involved in Gone Fishing Day, as it’s important to make time for your passions in a world that seems to get busier and busier. And what better excuse to go fishing than on our National Day? Plenty of people who got involved and registered on the website won some great prizes, and what better way to display a show of strength than the massive participation that we experienced on the day. T h a n k - y o u , Aussie anglers! You can search the hashtag #gonefishingday to see all of the awesome images from the day.

EDEN COAST Bermagui 56 Tathra 57 Eden 58 Mallacoota 58

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Paul Lennon with a beast of a mudcrab.

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SPECIAL FEATURES Catching a feed of crabs Mulloway off the beach Changing it up DIY Lipless Doc lure

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ING TRADE

Fishing Diary Angler: Zac Mangion Location: Port Welshpool Date: December 24th, 2016 Conditions: 28 , NE 6kts Black Magic Tackle: KL 6/0 hook and 60lb Supple Trace. Note: Good, reliable tackle is the most imporant thing when targeting big snapper.

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crabs

Catching a feed of fresh crabs PORT STEPHENS

Paul Lennon

The Mid North Coast of NSW is blessed with some of the best eating seafood you’ll find anywhere around Australia or the world for that matter. While whiting, flathead, pearl perch, bar cod, squid, prawns and oysters are high up on anyone’s eating list they rank a long way behind a feed of fresh crabs. I just love

of the day and between tide change periods. The two crabs we target on the Mid North Coast of NSW are the blue swimmers and mud crabs. While you will occasionally catch both in the same trap, they are generally found in different environments. Some crossover areas are the exception. BLUE SWIMMERS The blue swimmer crab is the smaller of the two growing to a maximum size

out to deeper water for winter, where they become much tougher to catch. They can be caught in a variety of different traps from witches hats and dilly nets to enclosed-style traps. Be sure to check on the Fisheries website what traps are legal in your area as crab trap rules can be vastly different depending on what waterway you use them in. In Port Stephens where I’m located witches hats are completely banned due to the

A beautifully marked blue swimmer crab. eating the things, and besides that I really enjoy the process of baiting up traps, looking for areas to put them and the anticipation that comes with pulling a trap up from the depths hoping to find a crab or two inside. It can become quite addictive and is also a great activity to get the whole family involved. It’s very hard to do wrong, and can be highly rewarding. Crabbing also has the benefit of salvaging a quiet day’s fishing and can give life to those hours in the middle

of around 1kg and 21cm across the shell. In NSW they have a legal minimum size of 6cm and a bag limit of 10 and can’t be taken if they’re carrying eggs. While they are typically smaller than mud crabs they are generally caught in bigger numbers and are more widespread throughout the estuary system than muddies. During the warmer months from October to May they are caught in their best numbers from 5m or less of water and then tend to move

impact they were having on our local turtle population. For this reason we now have converted witches hats into dilly nets, or use dilly nets or enclosed traps. Drive an hour away, however, and you have the reversal – Lake Macquarie allows the use of witches hats with a ban on enclosed traps! In most areas where they are legal, witches hats are probably the most popular method for trapping blue swimmer crabs as they are very effective, cheap and take up far less room

in the boat than enclosed traps, and you can put four of them out per person as opposed to two. They work on entanglement rather than trapping the crabs inside. The only disadvantage of this is they can sometimes be a time-consuming nightmare to untangle crabs from, often resulting in ripped and ruined netting and – worst of all – lost fishing time! Dillies also work well, however unlike witches hats they don’t entangle the crabs and require you to lift them up while the crabs are still feeding on the bait. This means any crab can come and go as they please so regular pulling every 30-60 minutes is vital for their effectiveness. Round enclosed traps also work well for blue swimmers and here in Port Stephens they’re the preferred trap to use, despite the rules limiting you to two per person (as opposed to four dilly nets). Once a crab enters these, they don’t typically get out. You can put this style of trap out in the morning, go for a fish and pull it up before you go home, or even leave it overnight and pull the next day. As mentioned earlier, through the warmer months of the year most of your blue swimmers will be caught from depths of 5m or less, so a good place to start putting traps out is in this depth of water around

Mud crabs are a true beast in their environment and in NSW the legal minimum size is 8.5cm with a bag limit of five. of where weed beds meet mud or shallow channels and drop-offs. Most of the time crabbing is something I do on the side of fishing and I’ll usually dump my pots in areas where I’ve had succuss in the past, go fishing and come back at the end of the day to pick them up. The problem with doing this is that unfortunately in NSW we have a massive problem with theft of crab traps. When you’re leaving your trap for this long unattended your bound to experience this first-hand at some stage. The best way of avoiding this is to stay in sight of your

MUD CRABS The bigger, meaner cousins of blue swimmers are the mud crab, which can grow to 3.5kg. They are a true beast in their environment and in in NSW the legal minimum size is 8.5cm with a bag limit of five. Any carrying eggs need to be returned the water. These brutes are by far my favourite of the two crab species to target, as they grow much bigger. One big mud crab is a couple of meals on its own. As with blue swimmers, the warmer months from October through to around May are the best times to chase them; winter isn’t even

The author with a cracker pair of muddies.

TUNA ALLEY

Named after the legendary 15-mile stretch of sand cutting through the deep blue Bahamian waters where the Bluefin tuna migrate north.

GREEN MIRROR: Enhanced vision and contrast for fishing inshore and on flats. • Copper Base • 10% light transmission

NOVEMBER 2017

OPTIMAL USE: • Sight fishing in full sun • High contrast

the lead up and entrances to any rivers or major tributaries of an estuary system. Areas further up these sorts of places especially around any bends or bottlenecked parts will also be worth concentrating your efforts around. Once you find areas like this you can refine your trap placement. Try putting it around the edges

traps and keep a good eye on them. This is also the best way to catch crabs in serious numbers as you can check your traps every 30 minutes and move them around until you find a few. Tide also plays a major factor with blue swimmer crabs; the run-out tide is by far the most productive and the slack water is typically quiet time.

worth bothering. Enclosed traps are by far the best method for chasing muddies as their powerful limbs make short work of the fine mesh of witches hats. While the heavy-duty round traps that most stores stock work quite well, they too can often end up with gaping holes punched through them. For this reason professional style steel

crabs framed wire mesh traps are the number one choice for serious mud crabbers. The problem is they will probably set you back about $100, which proves costly if it does disappear. Another major advantage they have over nylon meshed traps is the wire mesh won’t build up with mud sediment or absorb the smells of rotting bait. This really makes a difference if you’re leaving

your traps out for weeks at a time while checking and rebaiting them on a regular basis. Soft mesh traps are fine for an overnight crab bash but any longer than a week in the water and they begin to get dirty and smelly; they’ll stop catching crabs even with fresh bait in them. After that they need to be taken home and given a really good blast

with the hose to get all that mud build up and absorbed smells out of them. Then they need to be dried out in the sun. Mud crabs move around during the night to hunt for food and are only occasionally caught in daylight hours, so leaving your traps out at least overnight is essential. The best areas to chase mud crabs are generally Enclosed traps are by far the best method for chasing muddies as their powerful limbs make short work of the fine mesh of witches hats.

Left: Witches hats work on entanglement rather than trapping the crabs inside. The only disadvantage of this is they can sometimes be a timeconsuming nightmare to untangle crabs from. Right: Witches hats are probably the most popular method for trapping blue swimmer crabs as they are very effective, cheap and take up far less room in the boat than enclosed traps, and you can put four of them out per person as opposed to two.

going to be in the back half of the estuary system, especially up in the feeder creeks of major tributaries. These feeder creek environments are usually lined by mangrove forests and intertidal marsh zones often with many smaller accessible arms splitting off multiple times from the main feeder creek. Off the feeder creeks smaller drains run off and carve out deeper holes and channels around their entrances; these are some of the best spots to plonk a trap in. Any severe twist or bend that a creek takes is also a fantastic area to catch crabs, as most of the time you’ll find one side of it will have considerably deeper water than the other.

These environments are best suited for boats under 5m with shallow drafts and even then most of them are only accessible around the top of the tide. For this reason putting your traps out and checking them needs to revolve around the high tides. The last hour of the incoming tide is a good time to get up into these places, and try to avoid being up there too long after the tide turns. The last thing you want is to get stuck up a creek until the next tide high tide as the midges and mozzies in these areas can be brutal. On that note, always remember to pack some super strength Areoguard or Bushmans spray with you when venturing into the mud crabs realms – you’ll need it.

TRAP SET UP Regardless of what species of crab you are going to chase or what trap type you use, you’ll need to have your trap marked by a float. The float must be at-least 100mm in diameter and have clearly written in permanent marker CT (standing for Crab Trap), your initial and surname, your date of birth and your postcode. The rope attached to the float also needs to have a 50g weight on it, so that no line is floating on the surface of the water. Once you’ve got all that sorted, the next important part is what bait to use. If you’re using witches hats or dilly nets, you can get away with using softer baits such as pilchards or mullet fillets To page 10

NOVEMBER 2017

Mulloway

Beach tactics: secrets from the Mulloway Man BRISBANE

Sean Thompson

Considered the holy grail by beach anglers, mulloway (‘jewfish’ or ‘jewies’ as they are affectionately known) are at the top of most beach anglers’ hit or bucket lists. Many anglers spend long, lonely hours on the beach at night in the pursuit of these beasts. Some fishos might chance

upon one or two using baits such as pilchards intended for species such as tailor and salmon. However, the anglers who catch mulloway consistently have their own specialist techniques and tackle. Unfortunately though, many salty old gun mulloway anglers have taken their secrets to the grave rather than share them with even their closest friends, let alone a fishing writer! Left: A steeply shelving beach with little wave movement around Newcastle. The action slowed once the moon got a bit higher over the horizon. Right: A drop-off on the sand can be evidence of deep water directly in front. Note the sandbank to the right, also evident at low tide.

Even small mulloway take a liking to juicy big beach worms.

Fortunately though, my keen fishing mate Todd was much more generous. Todd the Mulloway Man (as I call him) was not only prepared to share his secrets with me, but also took me out for a couple of sessions near his home at Newcastle. Here we put his techniques into action and he shared many of his secrets with me to pass on to you. Todd is a wealth of knowledge on mulloway fishing, even though he’s only a relative newcomer, having targeted them over the past three years. In that time he has caught over 80 mulloway, so he is clearly doing something right. Even more interesting is that not all of his tactics are out of the textbook, yet they work and work very well. This

1. WORM TWISTED DROPPER RIG No. 8 block swivel

30lb leader 45cm

55cm

65cm

Lumo bead

No. 8 block snap lock swivel Size 2-4 star sinker

15cm twisted droppers

Mustad 2/0 baitholder

2. SQUID TWISTED DROPPER RIG No. 8 block swivel

30lb leader 45cm

55cm Lumo bead

15cm twisted droppers

65cm

No. 8 block snap lock swivel Size 2-4 star sinker

8/0 octopus circle hook

3. SLIDER RIG 8/0 octopus circle hooks

45cm 50lb fluorocarbon Lumo bead 15cm

Slide rig Lumo bead

Diagram 1: The very effective mulloway rigs described in the article. 12

NOVEMBER 2017

article summarises the generous information Todd shared with me. DIFFERENT TYPES OF STRUCTURE Deep holes and gutters Deep holes with an entry/ exit to deeper water are one of the more traditional target locations for mulloway along the NSW coastline. So too are relatively short, deep gutters (up to about 100m long or so) with a north and south entry and exit point. These locations are found along a number of exposed NSW beaches and are worth targeting during the peak times of dusk and into the evening. Holes that have been channelled out next to structure such as headlands, isolated rocks or even shipwrecks are also very worthy locations. Such formations attract baitfish and in turn the bread and butter fish such as mullet, whiting and bream that these larger predators like to target. Steeply shelving beaches Very different, yet arguably more consistent and productive locations are steeply shelving beaches, particularly those located close to river and estuary mouths. It is this type of formation, from Blacksmiths Beach at the mouth of Lake Macquarie to Birubi Beach just south of Nelson Bay, that Todd and other switched-on anglers have found to be so successful. It’s like a highway for mulloway; anglers who target the right time and tide as well as more defined beach formations along this strip have the most success. One of the key reasons for the success of these beaches is their proximity to the big estuaries along this strip, which act as both a nursery and feeding ground. Anglers should realise that while steeply shelving beaches give you access to deeper water and thus the chance for fish to ‘turn up’ at your location, there are a few things you can look for to improve your odds even further. Unlike a lot of anglers

who choose high tide so that the water fills deep holes and gutters, Todd prefers to fish the low tide in his local Newcastle beaches. This is because he finds it easier to read the underwater structure along the steeply shelving beaches at this time. Choosing a location along these steep beaches can be difficult for anglers unfamiliar with the area or how to read the water. Steeply shelving beaches

change shape (the waves become higher or lower) indicating a change in bottom structure. Other things Todd looks for are the steepest decline in the sand from the shore as an indication of deep water close to shore. He adds that there are also some permanent deeper holes along these beaches, which are best spotted from on top of the dunes in the middle of the day.

Big king worms on twisted dropper rigs are extremely successful in Todd’s local waters. often don’t produce the traditional rolling sets of breaking waves of more regular beaches. Apart from the shore break, they may just have one back break and can be harder to read. For this reason, Todd finds that spotting deeper pockets of water (or holes) and other structure can be easier at low tide. At this time, he will closely examine the unbroken waves and identify areas where the water is darker and where the waves partly break out further in shallower water, or simply

TACKLE AND TECHNIQUES Set rods Todd likes to fish with set rods as it allows the fish to run with the baits and if you use the right hooks, the fish will usually hook themselves. That said, once the tip of the rod has buckled over (indicating the fish has turned and run with the bait), Todd will grab the rod, tighten the drag about a quarter to half turn to its normal fishing position, and set the hooks by striking hard. In terms of positioning his baits, he generally sets his

Mulloway three rods about 10m apart. That means you need to have a few long rod holders that are set firmly in the sand. Todd uses a 1m length PVC pipe that is 50mm in diameter, which he well and truly wedges at a slight angle to the water with a lump of wood (which I liken to a ‘priest’). Baits and rigs Todd likes to use a variety of baits to cover his bases on any particular night. His favourite baits include king worms (thick enough to fit over the eye of the hook),

fresh squid, whole yellowtail and live whiting. By far his most successful and favourite rig is thick beach worms on a dual dropper rig using relatively small 2/0 red Mustad Baitholder hooks. In terms of bait presentation, he threads the worm up and over the eye of the hook and right up the 15cm dropper to the green lumo bead. He prefers to use 30lb monofilament for these twisted dropper rigs simply because he finds fluorocarbon much more difficult to get a tight twist.

I tend to agree, as I’ve tried a few different brands of fluorocarbon but am yet to achieve the perfect twists that Todd does with his mono leader. A couple of important additions to this rig are green lumo glow beads, which you should charge up with your LED headlamp (facing away from the water) to help the fish spot the bait at night. While this rig might not always catch the biggest fish, it continues to produce even when the other baits aren’t touched.

Todd will also run another rig with the same twisted dropper rig but replace the hooks with 8/0 Octopus circle hooks. On these hooks he rigs a whole medium-size fresh loligo squid, or strip if the squid are too big. A third successful rig is a slider rig with two snelled 8/0 octopus circle hooks baited with either a whole large squid, yellowtail (live if possible) or a live whiting. He uses heavier line (50lb) for this rig and given the bigger baits and deeper water

Fresh squid is another of Todd’s favourite baits.

Left: A yellowtail rigged up on a snelled slide bait. Note the top free hook. Right: The result of the yellowtail bait was this great mulloway.

this rig is usually in, it tends to catch larger mulloway or the occasional shark. Interestingly, he leaves the top hook of the snell free or loose for better hook-ups and so the fish swims or sits more naturally.

Other Tackle Like all anglers, Todd has his personal preferences when it comes to rods, reels and lines. In general he prefers 13’6 to 14’ rods with a fast action. In terms of reel choice, To page 14

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PEx4 150m: Light Green PE0.2 (3lb) to PE3 (50lb) 300m: Light Green PE1 (16lb) to PE3 (50lb)

NOVEMBER 2017

WHAT’S NEW FISHING KAMIWAZA DECO PEN II

Looking for the ultimate Japanese made stick bait? Look no further as Valley Hill’s Kamiwaza Deco Pen II is now available in Australia through Dogtooth Distribution. This stickbait is truly one from the top shelf. Superbly crafted and detailed, the bait is perfectly weighted to ensure a superior diving and swimming action. Each lure is wood carved, is covered in highly reflective, holographic foil, and is then meticulously hand painted to a finish, which has to be seen to be believed. Available in four colour combainations (pink, white, blue, and silver) and in four different sizes (140mm and 34g, 160mm and 55g, 180mm and 77g, 220mm – 130g) the Deco Pen II has been successful in landing many large Australian saltwater species. Japanese quality and durability ensure it copes in all conditions and situations. An absolute must for all stick bait enthusiasts and saltwater predator anglers www.dogtoothdistribution.com.au

COSTA HALF MOON

You’ll look like a maverick in Costa’s Half Moon sunglasses, a USA West Coast inspired beach style that rides the mystique of epic ocean swells. This model is available in Shiny Black and Tiger Shark as tributes to the icy water, huge swells and some of the largest sharks in the world that frequent Half Moon Bay. The straight temples, double-cut textures, and integrated Spring Hinges combine outstanding function and comfort with beautiful aesthetics. The sporty beach style of Half Moon embolden the thick, ominous waves of the legendary Mavericks surf break. Handcrafted in the USA, Costa delivers superior lens technology, exceptional fit and durability, and a lifetime warranty against manufacturer’s defects. The high definition 580 lenses cut glare and enhance your view of the outdoors, and there are six lens colours to suit every scenario – from bright sunlight offshore through to sight fishing in low light conditions. www.costadelmar.com.au

VIBELICIOUS MIDORI 3 MULLET

Samaki Vibelicious brings a new colour to the lure market: midori mullet (‘midori’ is Japanese for ‘green’). This new pattern consists of a chartreuse coloured body with gold glitter scattered throughout, a green backbone, silver foil gills and a silver lateral stripe. This UV-enhanced colour has proven itself time and again around the country, attracting barra, jew, bream and flathead to name a few. Midori mullet is available in the Vibelicious Fork Tail and Thumper Tail, which come in three sizes – 70mm, 100mm and 125mm. The 100mm and 125mm have now been upgraded with new BKK Raptor Z Hooks and the all new Decoy EX Strong Split Rings. New hardware like this encourages longevity in your fishing experiences and better hook-ups, as the hook penetration is on point. All Vibelicious lures contain premium Japanese stainless wire and are made of the toughest 10X super stretch material. Visit the Samaki website for more info and stockists, and like them on Facebook and Instagram. www.samaki.com.au 62

NOVEMBER 2017

BIGFISH JACK ATTACK II

The ‘Red Terror’ of the estuary is championed on Bigfish’s latest shirt: Jack Attack II. “These fish attack with a savage, no-holdsbarred ambush then run back into the snags,” said designer Joshua Ker. “Casting small lures in tight country is what this style of fishing is all about, and that’s what we’ve tried to replicate with this great Jack Attack illustration. It’s a must-have shirt for the next ‘up the back and hang on’ fishing trip!” Jack Attack II shirts are available from a child’s size 2 right through to 5XL for the big boys, so there’s a size to fit everyone in the family. Like all Bigfish UPF50 shirts, they feature BFMaxFlow fabric – a high performance, moisture-wicking material that is not only soft to feel, but durable and incredibly breathable and cool. This apparel is aimed squarely at anglers, and is designed to stand up to the harshest of elements. Price: from $89.95 www.bigfishgear.com

TICA GYMIR GVAT REELS

PRODUCT GUIDE

The new TiCA Gymir reels are crammed packed with many superb features and offer the angler an impressive reel at exceptional pricing. The Gymir reels are available in 5 sizes from a 1500 for estuary and freshwater applications through to a 6000 size for offshore fishing, so they have most fishing scenarios covered. They feature a High tensile strength body, aluminium alloy spool, solid aluminium bail wire, worm shaft drive system, one way clutch impact absorbent ball bearing, computer-balanced rotor and six RRB rustresistant ball bearings. The Gymir reels also feature a drag system with carbon drag washers and have drag ratings of 4kg for the 1500 size through to 10kg for the 6000 size, and offer an easy access oil inlet for easy maintenance. These reels feel very smooth straight out of the box and are certainly worth a look. www.jurofishing.com

LIVETARGET TROUT 6 SWIMBAIT

Designed with all of the characteristics of a full-developed trout, the LiveTarget Adult Trout Swimbait is built to attract the largest and hungriest predators around. Finished in a dark and light pattern to accurately reflect the phases of rainbow trout, the LiveTarget Adult Trout Swimbait is incredibly lifelike from end to end, including a moulded dorsal fin which acts as a shield to protect the razor-sharp EWG hook from hang-ups, and to prevent the build-up of grass. Internally, the LiveTarget Adult Trout Swimbait is fitted a factory-rigged balancing system that eliminates constant re-tuning. At the belly, an accessory pin enables anglers to customize their presentation with additional hooks and blades. This highly effective lure measures 190mm (7.5”) and weighs 3.25oz (92g). For more information visit the EJ Todd website. You can also look them up on Facebook for the latest info and photos, and see videos of the Trout Swimbait in action on YouTube. www.ejtodd.com.au

visit www.tacklejunkie.fish for the latest tackle news - AS IT HAPPENS!

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PRODUCT GUIDE 7

WHAT’S NEW FISHING DAIWA TD SOL III

Spoons are a fantastic tool for targeting deep-school fish in our freshwater impoundments, and Juro Oz Pro Tackle have just introduced a spoon that’s perfect for this caper. The Bushranger T-Spoon has an enticing erratic action that fish find very appealing, with a swaying action when drawn through the water, and a seductive fluttering action when allowed to fall on a slack line. Bushranger T-Spoons feature quality fittings and includes a swivel to eliminate line twist, with a quality Black Nickel Chemically Sharpened Treble, making sure you leave nothing to chance. The Bushranger T-Spoon is suitable for trout, redfin, yellowbelly and bass, and will be a handy tool all over Australia. The T-Spoon weighs 7g and is available in 4 dazzling colours. Make sure you’ve got one of these great spoon next time you’re working a school of predators in the deep! www.jurofishing.com

AKAME 120 HYBRID

HALCO MAX 110

ZEREK LIVE MULLET 11

Daiwa’s TD Sol III is the first reel to feature the all-new future design concept LT or ‘Light Tough’. The new concept LT Zaion body is the lightest, most compact and strongest body frame Daiwa has ever produced. Zaion is composed of carbon resin and long carbon fibres, and it far exceeds the strength of magnesium in strength per unit weight comparison. Zaion transmits vibration through the reel more efficiently than ever before, and it is lighter and stronger than a conventional reel made with similar resins or graphites. Other features include Air Rotor, ATD (Automatic Tournament Drag), Magseal, Tough Digigear, aluminium Airspool ABS, Perfect Line Stopper and aluminium Air Handle. The combination on all of these advanced innovations makes the TD Sol III one of Daiwa’s most technically advanced reels. You will feel more connected to lures, detect more bites and fight fish with ease. www.daiwafishing.com.au

The new Hybrid soft plastic prawn from NT company Akame features a segmented tail, and has Kevlar incorporated throughout the tail and into the body. This dynamite barra plastic is pre-rigged with a worm hook setup for weedless fishing. The Hybrid is a cross between a prawn and a fish, delivering two different actions. With a slow retrieve the lure imitates a prawn, gliding forward, while the fluttering wings give off subtle vibrations. Even on the drop the lure glides down like a prawn. When twitched, however, it gives the action of a worm or injured fish, so you can change things up to find out what works on the day. The Hybrid is 120mm long, comes in five colours, has a hook weight of 7g and a lure weight of 18g. Two more models are in the pipeline – a 90 model for the likes of flathead and bass, and a 150 for dam barra and cod. Price: SRP $8.50 www.facebook.com/akametackle

BUSHRANGER T-SPOONS

The Zerek Live Mullet, distributed by Wilson Fishing, is a soft plastic jointed swimbait that is available in three sizes. Built from the super strong TPE thermoplastic, the Live Mullet uses the same concept as the widely acclaimed Live Shrimp, to emulate the kind of natural prey movements that trigger strikes. To achieve this goal, the designers used a segmented body that is held together with a Kevlar webbing, giving strength and unparalleled freedom of movement. Easily workable with a straight retrieve, the lifelike 3D eyes and detailed finishes (natural and attractor patterns) make the Zerek Live Mullet an essential addition to your tackle kit whether you’re targeting everything from barramundi to Murray cod and mulloway, and everything in between. The three sizes are 3.5”/18g, 4.5”/23g and 5.5”/35g, and these are all available in 10 proven colours. www.wilsonfishing.com

The Halco Max 110 is an awesome bibless minnow suitable for both casting and trolling applications, in a smaller and more effective size than its bigger brothers the Max 130 and 190. This new Max is 110mm long and weighs a substantial 30g. Its slender profile casts like a bullet into the strongest breezes, and it is heavy enough to run straight and true several metres below the surface in the roughest of sea conditions. The weight and streamlined shape of the Max 110 also allows for maximum hook exposure, which is critical in lure design. Like its larger predecessors, the Max 110 can be trolled at speeds of up to 12 knots with minimal trolling resistance. Its slender tail section is designed for maximum hook exposure on the strike. www.halcotackle.com

ZMAN 3” SLIM SWIMZ

Following on from the popularity of the 2.5” Slim SwimZ and driven by angler requests, Tackle Tactics have now released a 3” version of this deadly little paddle-tail plastic. This realistic baitfish profile is constructed from 10X Tough ElaZtech, allowing you to catch more fish per plastic and the supersoft and flexible realistic feel of the ElaZtech combined with the unique under hooked paddle-tail design gives this plastic an incredible action in the water. It has an action that sees it punch well above its weight on species landed, including big flathead, mulloway, bass, mangrove jack, barramundi and more. The buoyancy of the ElaZtech helps bring the 3” Slim SwimZ to life in the water, with a tail up, natural ‘feeding’ pose when at rest on the bottom. The lively paddle tail provides action on the drop and the retrieve, making it an excellent option for both beginner and experienced anglers. Available in 12 colours. Price: SRP $10.95 (6 pack) www.z-man.com.au

Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au NOVEMBER 2017

DIY Lure Making

DIY lure making: Lipless Doc BRISBANE

Greg Vinall support@makewoodenlures.com

We’re already three months into our beginners lure making adventure, and so far we’ve made a small crankbait and a small stickbait. If you’ve been following the series and have given these projects a crack, I hope they’ve brought you a ton of luck! This month we’re doing something a little different. In fact, it’s something 90% of wooden lure making enthusiasts never attempt: a lipless crankbait. Lipless cranks are really not that difficult to make

once you know how. They’re super effective too, because they can be fished in a variety of different ways that other hardbody lures can’t. Bigger lipless crankbaits are tops for offshore predators of just about every type, while the medium-sized lures are deadly on everything from threadfin salmon to barra, trout and cod. We’re going to make a fairly small lure that will put you in touch with a pile of bread and butter species. In the estuaries you’ll find the Lipless Doc perfect for bream, estuary perch, trevally and smaller mulloway. Freshwater enthusiasts will find they’re great on bass, trout, redfin, yellowbelly and sooty grunter.

Template: 1 Square = 1cm

FISHING WITH THE LIPLESS DOC There are so many ways to fish lipless crankbaits, you could easily fill a book on the subject. Just one of the many things I love about them is that they can handle heavier hooks and rings than other crankbait styles without killing off the action. That makes them great for hauling tough fish out of heavy cover. The Lipless Doc is a sinking lure, so it can be counted down to a particular depth and then ‘yo-yoed’ back. To do this, jerk the rod tip sharply upwards, then drop the tip slowly and let the lure sink back. All the while, crank just fast enough to keep the slack out of the line. This technique can keep your

100% Scale

lure in close proximity to the bottom structure, or the top of a weedbed or thermocline. Don’t allow too much slack to form in the line on the drop… that’s often when the fish will take the lure! If you’re fishing from a boat, a good strategy is to sink your lure alongside submerged trees, then work it almost vertically in a series of short jerks, or yo-yo it around the base of the tree. The action is much the same as vertical jigging and can be deadly on yellowbelly and bass in particular. MAKING THE LIPLESS DOC For simplicity, the materials and tools we’ll use to make our Lipless Doc are much the same as for our

TOOLS AND MATERIALS Tools Utility knife, battery drill and bits, hacksaw, pliers. Materials • 12.5mm x 75mm balsa plank • 1-1.2mm stainless steel wire • 120 and 240 grit sand paper • 240 grit wet sanding paper • Epoxy adhesive (with syringes and mixing sticks) • Ball sinkers (size 00) • Methylated spirits previous two projects. The main differences are in the design – the classic lipless crank body shape is with tow point located on top of the head with internal weighting. PAINTING AND CLEAR COATING For the painting step, I’ll be turning to my trusty airbrush again, as you’ll see in the tutorial at makewoodenlures.com/ fishing-monthly/. But as I’ve said previously, there is no

problem whatsoever with a hand-brushed or aerosol can finish. Fish don’t mind at all! If you’d like to take your lure painting to the next level, you could sign up for my free airbrushing course at crazylureart.com/free-lurepainting-lessons-register/. My ebook Getting Started In Custom Painted Crankbaits is available on my website at makewoodenlures. com/product/custom-lurepainting-ebook/.

Cut out the template, and trace the side profile onto your balsa wood. Separate the blanks by slicing between them with a utility knife. Pare away the bulk of the waste, getting to within 1-2mm of the side profile you marked out. Keep the cuts as vertical as possible – the squarer the wood is in cross section, the better. 2

Using your square and curved sanding blocks on a flat surface, sand the blanks down to the side profile line. The resulting blanks should be perfectly square in cross section.

Centre the top template on the blank and transfer the shape using a pencil. Then slice away the bulk of the waste with a utility knife, as you did for the side profile. Once again use a sanding block to square the blank and refine the shape. 80

Mark a centre line on the narrow edges, then place your side template on the blank and mark the location of the tow point, hook hangers and weights. Notice the weights are well forward and the towpoint is on top of the lure, not on the nose. Use a pointy object like the tip of a pen to make a small divot where each hardware item will go and drill the holes for the eyelets using a 1.5mm drill bit.

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Mark centre lines on all the long sides of your blank, then mark carving guidelines. The guidelines are basically half way between the edge of the wood and the centre line you just drew. The exception is the area at the top front of the lure, where we want a small flat area to give the lure some action. We won’t be carving away any wood in this area, so you don’t need to draw carving guidelines.

Then drill 4mm holes for the weights using a brad point bit. Then move then drill bit back and forth to join the holes and make a long channel along the chin of the lure. You’ll find that a lot of wood is removed in this process. This leaves the blank quite weak, so work gently until the weights are glued in and the lure is strengthened by the epoxy. 7

Remove the waste between the guidelines using your knife. It’s easier to get this right if you take lots of light cuts and work with the grain. If you find the blade ‘digging in’ it’s time to turn the blank around and carve the opposite direction. Once you’re done, gently sand with 120 grit paper to refine the shape.

DIY Lure Making 8

Now it’s time to glue in some weights. Using the correct amount of weight for your lure design and placing it in the right location is one of the real keys to making lipless crankbaits. We’re going to use three size 00 ball sinkers that have been crushed slightly using pliers until they fit neatly into the holes and sit just below the surface of the wood. Glue these in using plenty of 24hr epoxy, then set the lures aside for a day or two to cure. Once the glue has cured, trim away any excess adhesive and sand flush with the wood. Then give the whole lure a final smooth sand using 240 grit paper. 10

Make some stainless steel eyelets as we did in the previous projects and glue them into the holes you’ve already drilled in the lure body. Be sure to get as much glue as possible into the holes and on the shaft or the twist eye. Wipe the excess epoxy away and set the lures aside once again to cure. Note: I’m using twist eyes to keep these lures simple for beginners. That’s fine for small, light duty lures like the ones we’ll make in this series. If you’re making lures that will be fished on lines greater than 6kg breaking strain you’d be better to use a through-wire or harder timber. Or both! FINISHED LURE

Harden your lures by treating them with thinned epoxy as we did for our crankbait and stickbait projects. The idea is to get as much of the resin absorbed into the balsa as possible, so the wood is hard and waterproof once the epoxy has cured. Finally, wet sand with 240 grit paper until they’re smooth and all the gloss has been taken off the epoxy.

• For extra information and video tutorials please go to Greg’s website MakeWoodenLures.com/Fishing-Monthly/ and complete the free registration. To check out Greg’s other work visit crazylureart. com and his Facebook page Wooden Lure Making.

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www.tacklejunkie.fish NOVEMBER 2017

Mott storms to victory Long-time ABT BASS Pro and AFC legend Matthew Mott has claimed victory in the Storm BASS Australian Open. The Murgon fishing guide and tackle store owner brought a 10/10 13.72kg limit to the scales over the weekend to take victory from fellow South Burnett local bassers Greg Mitchell and Brett Turner. This victory is a special one for Mott, who’s won most of what there is to win in competitive bass fishing in Australia. “I’ve been doing this a long time,” said Mott after the final weigh-in on Sunday afternoon. “I’ve been

THE FUTURE IS HERE Self-contained Electric Outboards

drive that I used to have, but the unique format of the Australian Open brought me back and I’m so thankful for events like this that give us a reason to turn up and compete.” The Storm BASS Australian Open was the first event of its kind in Australia. Thanks to a Queensland Fisheries Permit, ABT and its anglers were permitted to keep an increased possession limit of five Australian bass, which were to be released alive immediately after weigh-in. The increased possession limit allowed the tournament to take place over two longer sessions

WINNING TACKLE Rod: Dobyns Champion Extreme 762 spin rod Reel: Abu Garcia MGX Extreme 20 sized spinning reel Line: 6.6lb Berkley Fireline Exceed Leader: 8lb Sunline FC Rock Lure: 3” Slider Grub in gold fleck colour rigged on a 5/8oz Smak jighead

STORM

fishing these tournaments since the beginning; I’ve won Grand Finals and AFC, but lately I’ve been taking some time off. My business is booming and to be honest I’ve somewhat lost the

Matthew Mott added another trophy to his cabinet with the victory in the Storm BASS Australian Open.

with one on Saturday and one on Sunday. For the event’s champion Matthew Mott, his vast experience at the lake took over during practice on Friday, where he located an area that

was replenishing with fish throughout the day. It was then he formulated his game plan of ‘stay and play.’ “I fished that spot for as long as I could both sessions. It was a special little spot and there was so many fish there. I didn’t ever see the point in leaving until I couldn’t catch anymore.”

Mott pumps his first in celebration.

RESULTS Place Angler

Visit www.abt.org.au for entry forms. For general enquiries phone ABT on (07) 3387 0888. 90

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Fish

Weight (kg)

Payout

Matthew Mott 10/10 13.72 $6,000 Greg Mitchell 10/10 13.16 $3,375 Brett Turner 10/10 12.53 $2,250 Matthew Langford 10/10 12.32 $1500 + Day 2 Big Bass (1.55kg) Stephen Kanowski 10/10 12.14 $1,250 Paul Aldous 10/10 11.77 $1,000 Matt Johnson 10/10 11.63 Corey Goldie 10/10 11.44 Jordan Renz 10/10 11.36 Peter Phelps 10/10 11.36 For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

The key spot he identified was the old road boat ramp road, now covered by 40ft of Cania’s beautiful bass-rich water. “I think I probably used $5 worth of fuel all weekend – the spot was literally around the corner from the start and I bet I’d made a cast before even the last boat had left the start line,” said Mott. Mott leaned on his vast experience of fishing heavily weighted soft plastic swimbaits to the fish, which were suspending above the road bed anywhere from 20-40ft down. The technique was textbook Queensland bassing, keeping the plastic running as flat as possible thanks to the heavy 5/8oz Smak jighead which he matched to a 3” Slider Grub in gold fleck colour. “I went to 8lb Sunline FC Rock leader and 6.6lb Berkley Fireline Exceed. The thin line again helped me keep the lure tracking horizontally as close to the bottom as possible,” explained Mott. His go-to rig was a Dobyns Champion Extreme 762 spin rod matched with an Abu Garcia MGX Extreme 20 sized spinning reel. “The long rod let me cover the most amount of water possible; that long rod combined with a 5/8oz jighead makes for some seriously long casts, and I wanted my lure in that strike zone for as long as possible.” The event drew 31 of Australia’s best bass anglers to Cania to compete for over $15,000 in prize money – one of the richest events in ABT BASS history. Matthew Mott walked away with a $6000 first-place cheque and a trophy that will take pride of place on his mantle at home.

STOR

Mitchell close second Another local South Burnett angler, Greg Mitchell fell just shy of the biggest win of his career producing the only other bag over the magic 13kg mark on way to a 10/10 13.16kg limit and the $3375 cheque that came with it. Greg Mitchell has fished ABT since the early days of bass tournaments, beginning his career as a non-boater, and then transitioning to the front of the boat a few years ago. Mitchell perfectly represents the pathways that ABT tournaments give to anglers looking to challenge the best in Australia. After his performance at the

Storm BASS Australian Open, it’s clear that Mitchell is well on the path to becoming a consistent and feared competitor on the ABT tournament trail in years to come. Much like Mott, Mitchell found no shortage of fish during the two-day event. It was his formula to target the fish that were staging closer to the bottom that made all the difference. “You had to target the fish that were closer to the bottom if you wanted to catch the bigger and better quality fish,” explained Mitchell. “During the first few hours you could catch fish

pretty easily and quickly, really winding the plastic pretty fast through the suspended fish. It was once that bite really slowed down and you could begin seeing fish move through hugging the bottom on your sounders that you had to slow down and grind that lure along the bottom to get the better bites.” To do that Mitchell relied on one main lure – an OSP HP Shadtail 3.1” in colour #139, rigged on a 1/2oz jighead and paired to an Edge Black Widow ISR703 and 2000 sized spinning reel filled with Toray 10lb PE braided line.

Greg Mitchell fished the house down at Cania to claim second place.

Turner takes out third place It was a trio of South Burnett locals atop the Storm BASS Australian

Open leader board come Sunday afternoon, as Brett Turner produced a

10/10 12.53kg limit to sit third and collect $2250 in prize money.

Brett Turner finished third bringing fish like these to the scales.

“I really enjoyed the longer sessions; it really let you formulate a solid game-plan and really adjust if conditions or the bite altered.” Those were the comments of a very ecstatic Turner after Sunday’s final weigh-in had finished. A relative newcomer to the competitive bass fishing sport, Turner has showed he’s no slouch when the tour heads north and the bass start relating offshore to schools of boney bream. Ta rg e t i n g fish suspending off main lake points, Turner would start the mornings allowing his chosen soft plastic to sink for five seconds before commencing a speedy retrieve back to the boat. The bass were alive and kicking early in the session, chasing down the faster retrieve and giving Turner a quick limit each day. As the sun rose and the bite slowed, Turner

BIG BASS Visiting US bass angler and Bass Cat representative Kevin Short secured the Big Bass honours on day one with the Arkansas angler weighing in a 1.88kg bass to anchor his 6.46kg limit that had him sitting in equal fourth place at the end of day one. South Burnett’s Matt Langford valued added his fourth place winnings claiming the day two Big Bass for tournament with his 1.55kg kicker fish. – ABT paid close attention to his electronics, noting the fish movement throughout the water column and matching his presentation to whether they were sitting high or hugging the bottom. Turner’s go-to baits were a 3” Slider Grub in baby bass colour, rigged on 1/2oz jighead and presented on a Pflueger Patriarch rod and Daiwa Certate 1000 reel. He spooled the reel with 6.6lb Berkley Fireline Exceed and topped it with a 6lb Sunline FC Rock fluorocarbon leader. The Storm BASS Australian Open used a

Queensland Fisheries Permit to allow anglers to hold an increased possession limit of five Australian bass, to be released alive immediately after weigh-in. This permit was only for competitors of this tournament and is not for the angling public. The current two bass per person possession limit still applies to anyone fishing for Australian bass in rivers or lakes throughout Australia. For more information on your local regulations, contact Fisheries.

Slider Grub

40 feet

Old road

Matthew Langford claimed the Big Bass prize on the day two to anchor his fourth place finish for the tournament. NOVEMBER 2017

Kapten Waverider 550 CC a game changer

BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

Boats are a big part of my life; I love them and love the things I can do with them. I enjoy spending time in other poeple’s boats as well, which means that every so often I have the privilege of spending time in something quite out of the ordinary, which is exactly what the plate alloy Kapten Waverider 550 is! The Waverider’s hull configuration is a radical departure from the norm (yet absolutely proven) and combines high levels of performance and stability with a highly detailed finish and very high levels of sea keeping capability. The craft is a genuine game changer in plate alloy craft design. The radical hull configuration is the brainchild of Kapten Boat Collar’s Pat Jones of the Sunshine Coast. I first experienced the design and the accompanying top-shelf ride and easy performance a couple of years ago when I reviewed the Kapten 490 Waverider and its big brother the 610 centre console Waverider. These innovative rigs employ a vastly different hull shape, which sees the 4mm plate alloy craft having a fine entry with massive and quite steep reversed outer chines commencing somewhat aft of the entry section and continuing to the stern, in what could almost be regarded as a tri-section arrangement. While this rig is admittedly different, in practice it works 108

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very well; the fine bow reduces impact from waves while the tunnels created by the exaggerated outer reversed chines have a significant impact on ride, performance, and handling by trapping air under them underway and then really digging into the water to provide utmost stability at rest. In sea conditions off the Sunshine Coast the two earlier Waveriders were simply outstanding. While it would have been a treat to review the new 550CC in an oceanic environment, time and other constraints prevented the opportunity. Settling for the Brisbane River in lieu, we fortunately encountered some very large wash from passing tugs, ferries and other large behemoths; this allowed at least an accurate assessment of the hull’s ability to manage short sharp chop at speeds in excess of 50km/h. Mother Nature did her bit as well; the wind blew around 30 knots making for a fun day on the water! Hang on to your hat – I certainly did! AUS SHIPS’ DELUXE FINISH In essence, the new 550CC has combined many of the very best features of the earlier models and some additional ones to make what was quite good even better. The reversed outer chines are even larger and there’s also a 17° Vee aft to further iron out chop. The reviewed rig was constructed by Aus Ships at Rivergate Place Murarrie. Surveying the craft on its custom trailer, I was taken by the outstanding Aus Ships finish, which involved a truly outstanding standard

of workmanship. The welds were smoothed, polished and perfected with fit and finish absolutely top-shelf as well. A neat wrap highlighted the sides. Although the 550 Waverider was an eye catcher, I found the good looks were highlighted with practicality and fabulous performance. Pat Jones advised me there were, in fact, four models available – each an entirely custom rig as per final fit-out. The sizes available were 4.5, 5.0 (tiller steer available) 5.5,

fuel consumption of 23.6L/h. Into the wind-driven chop, the plate Waverider felt like a virtual hovercraft, so even though the 2.8L Suzuki was brand new I kicked in a quick burst to 5000rpm to enjoy the blast of breeze at 64.5km/h while the 550 just hummed along – no fuss and no bumps whatsoever. Dropping the trim down a tad (the craft was very responsive to trim) I experienced some really impressive G-force doing hard turns just for the fun

SPECIFICATIONS Length........................................................... 5.50m Length on trailer............................................ 6.7m Beam............................................................. 2.38m Recommended engine.....................150hp Suzuki Hull construction................4mm plate throughout Weight hull.................................................... 650kg Max People.......................................................... 5 Deadrise..........................................17° at transom Trailer....................Custom-made rolled aluminium Towing.................. Family six wagon or 4x4 wagon 6.0 and 6.5m centre console craft, so there’s something for everyone by the look of things. Note that while the reviewed craft didn’t have a windscreen, one would be fitted prior to the owner taking delivery. HOVERCRAFT RIDE Launching at Colmslie, I was amazed at just how easily the 650kg hull was powered by the 150 Suzuki on the transom. The craft planed at a modest 2650rpm, which saw a speed of 21.5km/h recorded. Easing the ultra-sensitive fly-by-wire throttle forward to 4000rpm, I saw a speed of 45.6km/h recorded with a

of it. I would speculate that with the 2.8L Suzuki broken in properly and the tacho touching the 6000 mark – as it certainly would – speeds around 70km/h would be quite manageable. FISHABILITY AND LAYOUT Footing’s assured in this purpose-designed offshore rig, thanks to carpet throughout and there’s plenty of room for up to five anglers to fish. A couple can work astern with two or three on the raised deck ahead of the console. It would be game on thanks to the surplus of work room and assured stability.

The 700mm interior sides finished just above the selfdraining floor provide a foothold when playing a big angry one, while the wide decks atop the sides also provided great brace points. The big bait station aft came with rod holders, cutting board and a window front to keep an eyes on the livies. Set into the transom was a tackle locker with several drawers while additional rod holders were near the bow. There were storage compartments set within the front floor, beneath the front seat and under the console. Additional storage is just one of the many options for a buyer to consider along with installation of an electric bow mount, as a Water Snake 80lb thrust was installed on the reviewed craft. The hub of the craft was the neat console under the big T Top with a bench seat for the skipper and a mate placed to ensure the dash and engine controls were within easy reach. The simple and functional dash layout had a Suzuki multi-function gauge set to port with switches and other items handy, the Suzuki engine controls to port and within easy reach whether you’re seated or standing. The dash hasn’t been designed to accommodate a flush mounted sounder, so a pair of optional 9” Garmin 820 units could be top mounted. The seating comprises of paired two person benches, per the owner’s request, and the seat up front of the console certainly provided plenty of breeze in the hair underway.

LAST THOUGHTS In assessing the Waverider 550CC I saw it as an exceptionally wellbuilt craft with a design that, while very different, is one hundred percent functional. Ride quality and stability are the strengths of this craft and they fairly beg for an offshore run, yet there’s no doubt the high degree of care in the finish and presentation would also have great appeal to a buyer. The design is available in bow rider, runabout, half or cuddy cabin formats and can be offered in both 2D and 3D survey. The standard rating is Level Floatation; if swamped (and fully loaded with all gear) three people can stand on one side without fear of capsizing thanks to under-floor sealed compartments and the sealed foam-filled side decks running the length of the craft. The fuel capacity was 185L but can be extended to 300L for far-ranging offshore work. As reviewed with the recommended Suzuki 150 and well-designed custom trailer – without electronics – the rig would come home for $69,500. For more info, visit www.waveriderboats. com.au, call (07) 5441 3636. • Quoted performance figures have been supplied by the writer in good faith. Performance of individual boat/motor/ trailer packages may differ due to variations in engine installations, propellers, hull configurations, options, hull loading and trailer specifications.

The Waverider’s unique massive reversed chines are almost pontoon-like in their effect. Check out the very shallow draft of the craft at rest.

The Waverider’s forward anchor locker bulkhead incorporates a set of rod holders; the Water Snake 80 is an option.

Those totally sealed side modules are foam filled, hence the craft’s Level Floatation rating.

Transom features include a three-step ladder to starboard, a big bait station and a multi drawer tackle locker.

A forward hatch up front is handy for anglers working there.

Stability’s assured with the Waverider. Even jumping a curling wash didn’t move the craft off a level attitude.

The Waverider’s interior sides form part of full-length foam filled compartments.

The Waverider’s Tee top offered both shade and rod storage.

Main pic and above: The Waverider at speed – air forced under the hull ensured ample lift underway, hence the very fine mist of spray coming away from the chine. Ample freeboard gives the Waverider definite offshore cred.

Pat Jones at the helm. Note the fishing room and those 700mm high interior sides. NOVEMBER 2017

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Sea Jay 4.88 Avenger Sports with 75hp Yamaha - SC

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SPECIFICATIONS Bottom sheet.. 3.0mm Side sheet....... 3.0mm Beam................ 2.30m Depth................ 1.22m Floor ribs................ 12 Capacity..... 5 persons Hull weight....... 435kg Rec hp.................... 70 Max hp................... 90 Max motor.........175kg 110

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There’s no denying that Bundaberg’s Sea Jay make a great-looking boat. Every time we upload a video-test to social media, there are plenty of people commenting that a Sea Jay is their dream rig. Luckily, the boats are built to last and perform their duties nicely. The 4.88 Avenger Sports that Garry Fitzgerald turned up with at the boat ramp at Cleveland was no exception. Garry is the National Sales Manager on the brand and had borrowed the rig from long time Sea Jay dealer, Stones Corner Marine in Brisbane. As it was fitted with one of the new F75 Yamahas, Willie Lee from Yamaha was there, too. Yamaha is proud of this motor (which is based on the F90) and Yamaha is always keen to see how their product performs on local hulls. And as a spectator commented as we

s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

Steve Morgan

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be a great ‘weekend’ boat to get to remote campsites and tote all of the gear that you need to make the trip comfortable. Available through the Sea Jay dealer network, the company has a reputation

FMG

however this hull was cradled on a Redco from Stones Corner. As tested, the package we took for a run weighed in at $34,500, although BMT packages start from the low $30Ks.

PERFORMANCE RPM............ km/h.................. L/h................ km/L idle.................... 4.................. 1.3....................3.0 1000.................. 5.................. 1.9....................2.6 2000.................10.................. 4.5....................2.2 3000................ 26.................. 8.4....................3.0 4000................ 43.................13.2....................3.3 5000................ 57................... 22....................2.6 5700................ 67................ 30.3....................2.2 Main: We call it the ‘Sea Jay Curse’ at Fishing Monthly. The bay flattens out and the wind stops whenever we go to test a Sea Jay. If you’re an angler, then you may think this is a good thing, but it doesn’t let you get a feel for the hull in the rough. Above: The south east corner of Peel Island is a pretty part of Moreton Bay and offers a variety of options for the angler and the boat tester. were preparing the rig for launch, it looks “mint!” Although there’s only 5hp difference between the 70 and 75hp Yamahas, there’s nearly 50kg weight difference. The 70 is a 1.0L outboard and the 75 is the same platform as the F90 and has a 1.8L capacity. With a less beamy boat, this may be a problem, but the 2.3m of width at the back of the Sea Jay holds the weight with ease. And the 90hp version would also legally fit on this hull. Apart from the weight, the main difference between the two motors is torque in the mid-range. Some dealers will tell you that “there’s no replacement for displacement”, and the capacity of this engine can definitely be felt as the

hammers go down. Having virtually no weight in the boat apart from some safety gear and the occupants (i.e., no trolling motor, batteries or fishing tackle) also helped this rig jump up and out of the hole. In fact, I think that some extra weight in the hull would make it more stable at rest, as it was so light that it would rock from chine to chine at rest. Nothing that a full tank of fuel and a MotorGuide wouldn’t sort out. Of course, the 75 Yamaha was super efficient, getting over 3km/L of fuel at a cruising speed of 43km/h at 4000 rpm. From a fishing point of view, the world is your oyster with the Adrenaline hull – there’s mountains

of space inside it to accommodate three anglers comfortably, or a boat load of camping gear. It’d definitely

of being easy to deal with when ordering options and customisation for your rig. They’re big enough to build you the boat you want quickly and small enough to still listen to their customers. Sea Jay can supply trailers for all of their boats,

For more information about this rig or the rest of the Sea Jay range, call into Marina Bayside at 1-13 Mangrove Lane, Taren Point, visit their website at www. marinabayside.com.au, or call (02) 9524 0044.

Yamaha’s F75 is substantially heavier than their F70 (by around 44kg), but offers nearly double the displacement (1.8L versus 1.0L) and plenty of torque. The 2.30m beam holds the motor easily and it sits under the transom’s maximum weight threshold by 7kg.

Top: Here’s the best of both worlds – an anchor box and an electric motor plate. Great for the bait fisher and lure caster. Above: With a full height transom and motor well, there’s room to fish in the port and starboard transom corners.

You want plenty of flat, open deck space? You’ve come to the right place!

With several seat-mounting options, you can set up the seats to suit the sort of fishing that you’re likely to do. Half-pockets at the rear of the aft of the casting deck offer some gear storage.

Top: The Avenger hulls have a reputation for being beamy – you can see just how beamy they are in this pic from above. Left and Right: The small casting deck up front has a couple of storage compartments. Anglers fitting a bow-mounted electric will often mount the batteries here to reduce bow lift.

We love that there’s a small, waterproof compartment for your valuables. Also, there’s plenty of space to bracket mount a large fish finder. The grab rails complete this practical console.

The helm is comfortable and you can rest your arm on the gunwale while using the throttle.

Top: Wide gunwales all round offer plenty of places to mount rod holders. Above: Yes, the Avenger 4.88 will turn heads at the ramp, with its Yamaha paint matching, wide beam and shallow draft, it’ll be easy for the family to get on board, too. NOVEMBER 2017

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