Queensland Fishing Monthly March 2019 by Fishing Monthly

REDEMPTION IN THE RUN-OFF

Features Urban warfare with jacks Lake Monduran not miserable anymore • Bountiful Borumba Dam • Live baiting tips •

•

Tried & Tested

NEW FIND THE

Stacer 539 Wild Rider with 115hp Yamaha • Yamashita Eginno Pyonpyon •

LOGO COMPETITION

SEE INSIDE!

Boating & Kayaking • • •

More Samsonvale pointers Kayaking in the wind Bar crossing safety March, 2019 Fishing Monthly G R O U P

Registered by Australian Post Publication No: 100003847

$6.95 (GST inc.)

issuu.com/fishingmonthly

fishingmonthly

Fishing Monthly Magazines

www wp.fishingmonthly.com.au FishingMonthly

LENS TECHNOLOGY OPTIONS

580G

LIGHTWAVEÂŽ GLASS Benefits of our most high-tech lenses: + 20% thinner and 22% lighter than average polarized glass + Encapsulated mirrors + 100% polarized to kill glare and reduce eye strain + 100% UV protected for maximum protection

580P POLYCARBONATE

Benefits of 580 plastic lenses with C-WALLÂŽ: + Lightweight and durable + Impact- and scratch-resistant + Outperform every other lens in the class + Available in mirrors + 100% polarized + 100% UV protected

costadelmar.com.au

NEXT STRONG

www.daiwafishing.com.au

Introducing new Rapala BC400. Whether you’re casting large swimbaits for murray cod and barramundi, or slow pitch jigging reefs for demersal species, the BC400 is the ultimate oversized bait cast reel. • Line Capacity 0.33mm - 200m • Precision Machined Brass Gear • Carbon Fibre Drag Washers • One Way Clutch System • CNC Machined Aluminium Spool • Aluminium Handle • Quick Switch Side Covers • Switch on/off Ratchet

• 6 Ball Bearings • Gear Ratio 6.3:1 • Drag Output 10Kg/22Lb • Centrifugal Brake System • Graphite Side Covers • Aluminium Body • Comfortable Eva Knob

SOUTHSIDE’S ONLY QUINTREX DEALER!

EXIT 26!

(NORTHBOUND)

EXIT 28!

(SOUTHBOUND)

HYPERDOME

CALL NOW

BRISBANE QUINTREX

QUINTREX 420 BUSTA

QUINTREX F370 OUTBACK EXPLORER

NEW

BOAT

$7,490!

• EVINRUDE 15HP 4-STROKE! • BENCH SEATS

• GLOVE BOX STORAGE COMPARTMENT • DEEP SIDED HULL

QUINTREX 430 FISHABOUT

NEW

$23,050!

NEW

BOAT

$12,899!

• EVINRUDE 30HP • CASTING PLATFORM

• SIDE POCKETS • CARPETED FLOOR • FUEL TANK RACK

QUINTREX 481 TOP ENDER SC

NEW

$36,770!

BOAT • EVINRUDE E40DSL • LOWRANCE SOUNDER ENGINE GUAGES • 2-TONE BLUE PAINT • BIMINI & CLEARS • MORE INCLUDED!

BOAT • EVINRUDE E75DSL • 70L UNDERFLOOR FUEL • QUINTREX ALLOY VHF MARINE RADIO BRAKED TRAILER • WHITE PAINTED HULL

QUINTREX 530 FREESTYLER

QUINTREX 590 FRONTIER

NEW

BOAT

$59,490!

NEW

$64,540!

31 333 468

3775 PACIFIC HWY, LOGANHOLME

www.brisbanequintrex.com.au QUINTREX 420 RENEGADE TS

NEW

BOAT

$15,999!

QUINTREX 460 RENEGADE TS

NEW

BOAT

$23,750!

• EVINRUDE 30HP • 3MM BOTTOMS/SIDES TILLER, ELECTRIC • WIDE SIDE DECKS START, POWER T&T • LIVE BAIT TANK

• EVINRUDE 60HP • CASTING DECKS DIRECT INJECTION • EXTRA SEA POSITION • FUEL EFFICIENT • BOW PLATE MOUNT

QUINTREX 490 TOP ENDER SC

QUINTREX 510 SEA SPIRIT

NEW

$38,490!

BOAT • EVINRUDE E75DSL • 4MM BOT/3MM SIDES QUINTREX ALLOY • LIVE BAIT TANK BRAKED TRAILER • BASS SPORT SEATS

NEW

YELLOWFIN 7000 HT

BAYSPORT 640 OVERNIGHTER

NEW

$72,990!

$42,490!

BOAT • EVINRUDE E90DSL • LOWRANCE ELITE 5TI • CATCH & RELEASE • UPGRADED SEATS • BIMINI & STORMCOVER • ALLOY TRAILER

NEW

$103,669!

•EVINRUDE 115HP •DELUXE BOW & SEATS NEW APEX HULL •95L FUEL TANK •FUSION STEREO •2-TONE PAINT

BOAT • EVINRUDE G2 150HP • LOWRANCE ELITE 7 TI • GOOD DECK WASH • G2 4.3 GUAGE • NT BIMINI & SOCK • MEGA BAITBOARD

BOAT • EVINRUDE G2 150HP CONCEALED REMOTE • G2 TOUCH GUAGE • ANCHOR WINCH & SARCA ANCHOR • ELECTRONIC

BOAT • EVINRUDE G2 200HP • CONCEALED REMOTE • LOWRANCE HDS-9 BIG BLOCK 3.4L! • G2 TOUCH/S GUAGE • FULLY PAINTED

USED 440 RENEGADE TS

USED QUINTREX 500 LEGEND CC

USED 460 RENEGADE SC

USED WHITTLEY 2080

$14,990!

USED BOAT • CARPETED FLOOR • EVINRUDE 40HP • FRONT SEAT POSITION • FRONT & REAR CAST PLATFORMS • PRICE JUST REDUCED!

THE ALMOST END OF

$24,490!

USED BOAT • MERCURY 75HP • BIMINI • 80L FUEL TANK

• FRONT CAST DECK • FOLDING CONSOLE • EXCELLENT COND!

$49,490! • ELEC SAVWINCH • LOWRANCE HDS5 • VHF & STEREO!

IRM AVAILABILITY!

VERY LIMITED STOCK - CALL TO CONF

E15RGL4

$2,850

E40DGTL

$7,250

Brisbane Quintrex is part of the largest Marine Dealership Group in Australia.

CALL NOW

$32,490!

USED USED BOAT BOAT • GARMIN ECHO COMBO • V6 VOLVO 210HP • YAMAHA F60HP • MACKAY OFF-ROAD • BIMINI & COVER • MACKAY TRAILER TRAILER(HEAVY DUTY) • LOTS MORE INCLUDED! • FULL CAMPERS

mind!! peace of the BIGGEST

deal with

E50DSL

$7,999

C150FXH

$19,565

E250X

$25,520

CASH FOR LATE MODEL BOATS! (HULL YEAR 2000 AND ONWARDS ONLY) BOAT VALUATIONS - CALL PAUL: 0422 391 822

31 333 468 PACIFIC HWY, LOGANHOLME 3775 Pacific Hwy

BRISBANEQUINTREX.com.au

14 13

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO FIND YOUR NEAREST STESSCO DEALER VISIT WWW.STESSCO.COM.AU CAIRNS AUSSIE MARINE 5 Hannam St, Bungalow (07) 4033 8800 aussiemarine.com.au GOLD COAST GOLD COAST BOATING CENTRE 64 Kortum Drive, Burleigh Heads (07) 5576 7388 goldcoastboatingcentre.com.au IPSWICH IPSWICH MARINE CENTRE 45 Huxham Street, Raceview (07) 3294 3944 ipswichmarine.com.au BRISBANE KAREE MARINE 1776 Ipswich Road, Rocklea (07) 3875 1600 kareemarine.com.au HOME HILL PETO MARINE 15 7th Avenue, Home Hill (07) 4782 1182 BRISBANE NORTH SOUTHERN FISH MARINE 9/11 Spinnaker Dr, Sandstone Point (07) 5497 6733 southernfishmarine.com.au SUNSHINE COAST SUNSHINE COAST YAMAHA 14 Machinery Avenue, Warana (07) 5346 9981 www.sunshinecoastyamaha.com.au WHITSUNDAYS WHITSUNDAY MARINE 4/11 Shute Harbour Rd, Cannonvale (07) 4948 3298 whitsundaymarine.com.au

GULF RUNNER SERIES All on Stessco Softride Premium Hull offering 5 years structural warranty if purchased as factory boat and trailer package. 1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Large front casting deck for 4 x access hatches and sub-floor Premium side console with plenty of real estate for electronics Standard with Hydraulic Steering Standard with Electrical Pre-Rig, Nav lights, Anchor lights, 500gph bilge pump and 5 gang switch panel with charging socket Underfloor Keeper Tank Underfloor Fuel Tank Fully plumbed live bait tank Large baitboard with 2 x rod holders Swim Style Transom Heavy Duty Boarding Ladder 4 x Rod holder standard 2 x Long Side Pockets Large Alloy Anchor Well, c/w structure for drum winch install

2 4 3

11 8 7

OPTIONAL Electric Motor Bracket Bow and Side grab rails 10

For more information or to find your nearest Stessco dealer visit www.stessco.com.au

$6.95

RRP (GST inc.)

March 2019, Vol. 31 No. 5

Contents NORTHERN NEW SOUTH WALES Yamba 18 Ballina 20

Image courtesy of Yokohamajapan.com

Business Office: Unit 1, 11 Knobel Court, Shailer Park, Qld, 4128 Phone: (07) 3387 0800 Fax: (07) 3387 0801 Managing Editor: Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au Editorial Manager: Jacqui Thomas Sub-Editors: Bob Thornton Nicole Penfold Annie March Field Editors: Jason Ehrlich Wayne Kampe Publishers: Steve Morgan Matthew Drinkall

Advertising Enquiries: Ph: (07) 3387 0800 Nicole Kelly nkelly@fishingmonthly.com.au Printing: APN – News Corp Australia Production: Karen Millward Keith Hawley Website: www.fishingmonthly.com.au Distribution: Gordon & Gotch Pty Ltd Subscriptions: Kym Rowbotham Office Manager: Marie Dykstra

James Thurley was over the moon to land his first barra on Queensland’s Central Coast. An Andrew Wilson Image.

TO SUBSCRIBE SEE PAGE 83 FIND THE GAMAKATSU LOGO COMPETITION PAGE 59 Queensland Fishing Monthly magazine goes on sale the first week of each month (latest sale date 7th of the month).

Published by:

Qld Fishing Monthly Pty Ltd ABN 72-010-542-195 IN

FISH

’

FU TU

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

SUBSCRIPTION HOTLINE FREECALL 1800 228 244

OUR COVER

Annual Subscriptions: $65 for twelve issues (GST inc.) Make cheques payable to Queensland Fishing Monthly PO Box 3172 LOGANHOLME QLD 4129

Come and visit Fishing Monthly Group’s official Facebook page for all your monthly fishing information. Download QR Reader to access.

Advertising: Ph: (07) 3387 0800 Fax: (07) 3387 0801 Copy and materials should be sent direct to: ads@fishingmonthly.com.au

SINCE 1987

ION

QUEENSLAND FISHING MONTHLY

you think. Traditionally a tradeonly event, the 2019 AFTA Trade Show is set to be opened to the public for a look-and-see only event on Saturday 17 August this year. It seems like a long way away, but you all probably know by now that life is like a roll of toiler paper – the closer to the end you get the quicker it goes. So it will be here before you know it. The Gold Coast may seem a long way to go to see some fishing tackle (and to not buy any!), but I’m sure that there will be thousands of fishing fans

And then there are the giveaways. There’ll be a hundred people who want a chance to win a lure, and each of them challenges the host to rock-paperscissors – simultaneously! And the cool thing about it is that nobody cheats (I’d often remark that in Australia, there would still be 90 contestants after 10 attempts). Closer to home, developments in the 2019 AFTA Trade Show on the Gold Coast may mean that YOUR opportunity to see the latest gear and to meet your fishing stars may be closer than

who will take the opportunity to travel to this great destination. After all, there’s plenty of accommodation at the right price and there’s not much better weather anywhere than the Gold Coast in winter. The family can go to the theme parks and you can give a rocksolid guarantee that you won’t buy a thing! Actually, that’s not quite correct – there will be limited stickers, caps and catalogues available, but nothing to catch a fish on. I’m old enough to remember the last time the industry opened its doors to the public; it was at a Sydney show and it was well regarded for years afterwards. One thing is for sure, you can bet that any fishing media, pro-staffer, social media legend and content creator will be there – either working the booths or visiting them – so here’s your 6-month heads-up… it’s time to plan a family holiday to the Coast!

AUST

SPECIAL FEATURES Urban warfare with jacks 10 Lake Monduran not miserable anymore 40 The bountiful Borumba Dam 66 Live baiting tips 74 MARCH 2019

It’s become a habit over the last couple of years to head to Japan to see the latest and greatest tackle. Last year it was the Yokohama Fishing Show and this year it was Osaka. These are the two main shows in Japan and they’re held a couple of weeks apart, right in the middle of winter (the Australian summer, and yes, it was a welcome escape from the heat). Japanese companies use the shows to launch new product and to engage with the tens of thousands of fishing fans that come out to see the gear and meet their favourite fishing personalities. And Japan has plenty of both – gear and fishing personas. It’s not uncommon for hundreds of people to attend a stand-side presentation with a TV guy or girl or a winning tournament angler to hear them speak. It comes complete with security guards and ropes to hold the crowd in and to keep the aisles clear.

REGULAR FEATURES Back to Basics 14 Camping and 4WD 68 Cooking 82 Dam Levels 60 Freshwater 60 Fun Page 90 Sheik of the Creek 69 Suntag 86 Tech Tricks 16 Tournament News 76 Track my fish 80 Trades and Services 88 What’s New Boating 93 What’s New Fishing 70

From the Editor’s Desk...

BOATING AND KAYAK

TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND Whitsundays 52 Ayr 53 Townsville 54 Hinchinbrook 55 Port Douglas 55 Cairns 56 Cairns NFZ 56 Lucinda 57 Cape York 58

CENTRAL QUEENSLAND Rainbow Beach 45 Hervey Bay 42 Gladstone 46 Bundaberg 47 Monduran 47 Rockhampton 48 Stanage Bay 48 Yeppoon 49 Mackay 50

PRO

SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND The Tweed 22 Southern Gold Coast 24 Gold Coast Canals 26 Jumpinpin 28 Gold Coast 30 Southern Bay 32 Brisbane 34 Brisbane Offshore 36 Northern Bay 37 Noosa 38

ING TRADE

the best by test...

FAMOUS WORLDW IDE FOR STABILITY, LEVERA GE, AND COMFORT!

hole crew is ready... e the w r u s e Mak

THE BLACK MAGIC EQUALIZER... “THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST FIGHTING GEAR YOU’RE EVER GOING TO USE” - Capt. Andy Locascio 4 size options available: • Small - standard gimbal, small harness • Standard - standard gimbal, standard harness • XL Wide/Standard - XL wide gimbal, standard harness • XL Wide - XL wide gimbal, XL wide harness ALL kits come with a free carry bag. Read more at: goo.gl/XVzD3v

@blackmagictackle

www.blackmagictackle.com

GET YOUR KIT TODAY!

Mangrove Jack

Jacks wage urban warfare CAIRNS

Dan Kaggelis dkaggelis@gmail.com

The impact of urbanisation and development of our waterways is increasing.

new, the steady increase of artificial structures on our waterways has made urbanbased fishing is becoming more and more popular. JACK THEORY To understand why jacks have thrived in these

loss of these mangrove nurseries, which have forced young and juvenile jacks to seek other areas that have the same appeal. Thankfully, many of the artificial structures in canal systems, rock walls

The first and probably the most well known areas are canals. This is because canal developments are the most common form of human development on our waterways up and down the coast. Floating pontoons and boat hulls have become the new ‘mangroves’ for many fish, including jacks. All these man-made structures attract bait, which in turn attracts predatory fish – it’s that simple. While these structures offer plenty for the fish, they also offer plenty for the anglers too. The first being multiple pressure points, which make for great target zones, especially when throwing lures. Pressure points are areas where the current or flow is either pushing hard up against them, or running across them. This flow creates a pressure edge, where baitfish congregate, and more importantly ambush predators like jacks like to sit waiting for the food to come to them.

Setting up for a cast down the edge of a floating pontoon. Notice how the electric motor is pointing outwards, ready for a quick fish extraction.

The author caught this solid jack in an urbanised area. With this increase comes many negative consequences for our natural environment and water quality. However, there are also several positive consequences, especially if you love your mangrove jack fishing. While urban development has seen challenges for several fish species in Australia, it is fair to say the mighty mangrove jack is not one of these. In fact, jack numbers in some of our most urbanised areas across the East Coast have steadily increased, as they have learnt to adapt to their new homes. While urban fishing for jacks is not

urban environments, you first have to understand the life cycle of jacks. As juveniles, jacks take up residence in our mangrovelined creeks and rivers. This is because when mature jacks spawn in open water, the jack larvae is pushed back into inshore waters where they take up residence in creeks and estuaries in both fresh- and saltwater, depending on the system. These areas provide the perfect place for these fish to access food, while at the same time hide from predation. One of the negative impacts of urbanization has been the

and even bridges have become more than suitable replacements. They provide ideal bait holding structures, ambush points and refuge from predation. On top of this, many of these systems are quite large and deep, which means mature fish, especially in the South East, tend to hang around a lot longer, reaching trophy sizes. All these factors combined spells the perfect recipe for some dragbusting, lure-crunching red devil action. FIND YOUR ARENA When choosing to target urban environments, you have a number of different options up your sleeve.

Rock wall edges create pressure points, which are perfect for jacks and barra.

MOTU

Named after the perfect spot to take a break in the crystal, clear waters of the salt flats, the Costa Motu sunglasses are great for catching a couple of cold ones in between casts.

GRAY:

OPTIMAL USE: A good everyday choice for activities on the water and land. • 12% light transmission

MARCH 2019

• All-around activities • Natural contrast

This jack fell to one of the author’s favourite lures, the Balista Trigger.

Mangrove Jack These pressure points are easily spotted when the tide is running and are mostly found on the edges of pontoons, especially around corner posts and even boat hulls.

for bait looking to get out of the current. FISHING URBAN STRUCTURES Floating structures Being able to spot

well past the target zone and running it past it or through it. This is because you want a reaction bite from a jack, which is usually waiting in ambush.

the zone. This is where medium to shallow running hardbodies or paddletail plastics are ideal. Suspending hardbodies like the Ballista Trigger, Jackall Squirrel and Lucky Craft Pointer are also a favourite, as they allow you to sit in that sweet spot for longer. Poppers and stickbaits, especially at low light or at night, are also ideal, as the jacks are already sitting high in the

water column. This makes for some awesome fishing. The last thing when fishing canal pontoons is to think about setting your boat up for an extraction after hooking up. Have the electric motor facing away from the structure so when the strike comes you can power the boat out and get the fish clear. Rock walls Rock walls are also awesome, mostly because

they offer so much structure and opportunity for anglers. The only problem with rock walls is in some areas they can go for miles, so unless you have the patience to sit and flick the entire length, trolling might be a better option. Trolling will give you some info on where on the wall the jacks are holding. Having free dived many rock walls it is To page 12

Juvenile jacks can be in big numbers in canal estates, as they are the new nurseries. If you have a pressure edge, then you also have the opposite on the other side of the structure called an eddy, which are areas of back water. These are usually found on the opposite edge of the pressure points, and are also highly desirable target zones, as they are also great ambush spots

these areas and targeting with precision casts so you can run your lures right through them is important. Unlike snag bashing, where you have to throw your lure hard up to structure, targeting pontoons and boat hulls is a little different. You want to put your lure

If you plop the lure on its head you can sometimes spook the fish, sending it to cover and away from your lure. Due to the nature of the structure being high in the water column, a medium to fast retrieve or twitch is ideal when going through

This is what every jack angler loves to see â€“ a solid specimen boatside.

KOMODO SS 273

ABSOLUTE

POWER

A NEW BOSS HAS ARRIVED ON THE COMPACT BAITCASTER SCENE Okuma brings the legendary toughness of itâ€™s Komodo SS 364 and 463 models to the 200 baitcaster class. This is achieved with stainless steel gears, spool shaft and drive shaft; a rigid aluminium frame and side plates, machined A6061-T6 alloy spool, seven precision bearings including Japanese ABEC-5 spool bearings, 9kg of progressive carbonite drag, Velocity Control Casting system, and a dual anti-reverse set up. The new Okuma Komodo SS 273 easily out-muscles other 200-sized baitcasters, offering anglers a reel that can be relied upon time and time again when up against big, aggressive fish.

KOMODO SS 273

KOMODO SS 364

KOMODO SS 463

Available now in left and right hand retrieve.

Full product range at okuma.com.au MARCH 2019

Tech Tricks

Cast net rope replacement BRISBANE

Gordon Macdonald masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com

With the prawning season already in full swing, many will be using their cast nets on a regular basis. Most of the prawns have been in the shallower creek and river systems, however, over the next month or two they will move out into Moreton Bay. A lot of the areas around the bay islands are in rather deep waters, where a 20m cast net lead rope is required to allow you to reach the bottom. With most cast nets, this

will require an extension to the original rope or for a new rope to be added to the net. Additionally, over time the lead rope on a cast net will become frayed and may need replacement. There are a lot of different styles and qualities of cast nets on the market. One thing they all have in common is a lead rope. This keeps the caster connected to the main net and allows the net to be retrieved once it hits bottom. Many cheaper quality nets come with only a couple of metres of thin lead rope. This will suffice when only using the net in shallow water, however are

insufficient for the deeper areas. Additionally these thin ropes can be very hard on your hands over a period. The deep areas around the bay islands where prawns tend to congregate over the coming months will often require around 20m of lead rope to ensure your net reaches the bottom while the lead rope is still slack. If there is any tension on the lead rope as it sinks, the net will begin to close, which limits the efficiency and the catch. The thin lead ropes that come on many of the cheap nets are very hard on your hands during a long session of prawning

and have a tendency to tangle, especially with a bit of twist in them. Replacing them with a longer, slightly thicker rope is a necessity if you want to prawn in the deeper waters with a 12ft top-pocket net. Even with smaller bait nets, a thicker, low tangle lead rope is desirable. There are a lot of good rope types that can be used and some prawners have a preference for a particular type on their net. Today I will show you one of the easiest rope types to work with that I have found to be exceptionally good for cast net lead ropes.

The torpedo swivel on some nets will limit the diameter of the rope that can be used. To replace the rope on this net, I want to add a 8mm diameter rope that will not fit through the eyelet of the swivel. Cut away the old rope first.

By adding a stainless steel D-shackle we can now add a much thicker rope to the cast net. This D-shackle has a 4mm pin that will easily fit through the eye of the torpedo swivel and is exceptionally strong. Using a slotted D-shackle (one where the pin is screwed in with a screwdriver) is desirable as the pin is very flush once inserted and therefore the net wonâ€™t catch on it.

Ski rope is great as a lead rope as it doesnâ€™t absorb water, is gentle on your hands and is extremely easy to work with. You can get it in 6mm, 7mm, 8mm and 10mm diameters, and I found this 23m hank of 8mm at Bunnings. With a 850kg breaking strain it will almost never break. You could use thinner rope, however I find the 8mm tangles less and is easy on the hands when pulling a 12ft net loaded with prawns up from deep water with current. You will also need a lighter or paint stripper gun and a pair of good cutters for this task. 16

MARCH 2019

There are numerous reasons why you would need to add a new rope to your cast net. Many of the cheaper nets have the lead rope bound on with thin twine. If this twine breaks or wears out, the lead rope will eventually come free and you will probably lose your net. Likewise, you may want to increase the length of your lead rope to allow you to use your net in deeper water.

Pro Throw produce a pre-assembled 20m replacement rope that is extremely easy to add to your net and comes with all the relevant instructions. It is made from 8mm ski-rope and has a neoprene wrist lanyard, which eliminates chafe on your wrist during casting and is easy to slide on and off the wrist. Most specialist tackle stores will have them available. They are the best addition to your cast net and I have one on my main prawning net.

Cut your lead rope to the length you require. For prawning in the southern bay islands you will need around 20m. If you are just adding a rope to a net used for bait around the estuaries then 6-8m will suffice. Cut each end on a slight slant and then use your lighter to begin melting the fibres. Wet your fingers and then shape the end of the rope into a blunt point.

Tech Tricks

If you hold the rope in two places and push together you will notice how the rope bunches. This ski rope is tubular (hollow in the middle) and when spliced back inside itself has exceptional holding power. A basic connection like this can hold a skier or tube rider, so it will easily be strong enough for your cast net.

Pass the rope through the swivel attachment (or in this case the D-shackle) and tie a basic overhand knot leaving around 20cm of tag end.

While bunching up the rope as shown, insert the tag end of the ski rope through the fibres on one side and into the centre core close to the knot. This will be a lot easier than you first expect.

You will repeat this process in the other end of the rope to make a loop for your hand. On my bait nets I attach the rope to my wrist, yet on my prawning net (which I throw using the American Shrimpers method) I attach the rope to the rail of the boat and have a large carabiner snap on the end of the lead rope to allow it to easily be changed from side to side.

Insert the tag end all the way up through the centre of the rope. You can do this easily by pushing the main rope forward to make it expand and bunch up, before tightening your grip to secure the tag end and then pulling forward to drag it back through the centre recess. You will probably have to do this a couple of times, however the process is very simple. Once completed the tag end will be inserted fully into the core and it should look like this picture.

For nets with large swivels already on them, you will be able to attach the rope directly without using a D-shackle. The expansion and gripping properties of the rope make this a very simple yet very strong connection, regardless of the diameter of the ski rope you choose. Due to the simplicity, ropes can quickly and easily be removed or added to a net, even while out on the water. MARCH 2019

Lake Monduran not so miserable anymore! BRISBANE

FACILITIES

Nicole Kelly

After living in Darwin for some time and being spoilt with an abundance of barramundi fishing options, I thought it was time to try to catch a Queensland barra. The chance to catch an elusive Lake Monduran barramundi was beckoning, and with the nickname Lake Misery I wasn’t sure this was the best choice, but with recent reports of steady catches and the chance to find a promotional tagged barramundi, we made the trip north! Lake Monduran is a stocked impoundment that holds a world record for the largest Barramundi caught back in 2010. With various other species to target such as bass, silver perch and catfish, it’s and anglers

With two easy access boat ramps located within the holiday park, as well as one public ramp outside of the park, getting onto the water is a breeze. If you don’t have your own boat, you can hire one from Big Barra Hire Boats. There is a choice of a 4.1m Polycraft Challenger with either a 6hp (no licence required) or 25hp (licence required). The kiosk stocks everything you could need for your time at Monduran, including fishing tackle, fishing apparel, a good range of basic supplies as well as the ever important ice.

Jess found success trolling, with this 54cm barra coming aboard – her first ever barra! LURES OF CHOICE Like many of the impoundment barramundi fisheries in Queensland, the main food for the barramundi is bony bream and freshwater garfish. One of the keys then is to use a lure that mimics what they are eating. Suspending hardbodies such as the Jackall Squirell with slow rolling or twitch

Timber structure makes up a large portion of the dam. is another good choice. Vibes like Berkley Hollow Bellies can also prove their worth. DON’T BE AFRAID TO TROLL One of the difficulties in any fishery can be finding the fish, especially

Luke’s fish was taken on the second cast of the day. paradise. Monduran is one of the closest of the barramundi stocked lakes to Brisbane. Located near Gin Gin, it’s an easy 5-hour drive up the Bruce highway. The nickname Lake Misery is probably not warranted, and is mainly due to the size of the impoundment. Pre-2011, with water levels of the lake at an all time low, the place was less ‘miserable’. Massive numbers of massive fish were being caught using a variety of techniques, however the 2011 floods filled the lake to well over capacity and the vast majority of fish in the lake went over the wall with the water. The lake has sat around that 100% capacity since then, meaning there is an awful lot of water to be explored. The recovery has been slower than anybody wanted, but due to the efforts of the local fish stocking group, more consistent captures have been reported over the last couple of years. Fish sizes are also getting up there, with a number of fish hitting the magical metre mark. 40

MARCH 2019

past the weed edges, and after again casting the soft plastic paddle-tails and suspending hardbodies a Berkley Hollowbelly produced the goods with a healthy 79cm barramundi. Early the next morning we travelled further north in the dam to a heavily timbered bay known as ‘the rainforest’. Again using the same tackle and technique

Rob and Kelly Howell manage Lake Monduran Holiday Park and gave us a warm welcome and some fishing tips when we arrived. They have been at the Holiday Park for many years and Rob’s knowledge of what’s happening fishing wise is second to none. At Rob’s suggestion our plan was to look for areas of weed and points around the main basin that had had consistent wind blowing onto them over the previous week. A number of fish had been caught at these locations during the peak morning and afternoon bite periods.

the Berkley Hollowbellies, ZMan SwimmerZ and suspending hardbodies such as the Jackall Squirell and Lucky Craft Pointer onto the suggested points. With limited action around these points, we headed to a weed island in Bird Bay, a very popular spot. With a number of boats coming and going it was receiving a lot of angler pressure. We positioned the boat upwind to drift

from the previous day this time focussing on the timber structures. Although it produced a couple of bites’ no fish were landed. Travelling further that afternoon to a section of the original river known as ‘white rock’, the focus was on both weed edges and timber’. We scored only a few hits and a fork-tailed catfish for our troubles. Watching the incredible sunset from the dam, it was

At the suggestion of barra guide Rob, the team started casting around the weedy, wind blown edges like this one. and pause action are an obvious choice. Soft plastics including ZMan SwimmerZ and Diezel MinnowZ slow rolled or bounced along the bottom

Local knowledge and a sounder is recommended when fishing Monduran.

if you don’t have a sounder. Heading out on the trusty Polycraft, with accompanying anglers on their own craft, we took our time trolling the main basin and surrounding bays, using various lures and sticking close to any wind blown points and weed edges. Monduran’s infamous timber structure also provides trolling opportunities. After a couple of hours and only a little bit of interest, trolling produced one barramundi under 60cm. SOME SUCCESS FOR OUR EFFORTS Heading out we decided to try a variety of soft plastic paddle-tails such as

Robbie’s 79cm barra was taken while casting around a weed island. ACCOMMODATION There are many accommodation options available at the holiday park. The options include selfcontained houses that can sleep up to eight, selfcontained lake view cabins sleeping up to five, as well as powered and unpowered camping sites. Within the holiday park there is a well-appointed amenities block, multiple BBQ/picnic areas, fish cleaning tables, camp kitchens and even a 9-hole mini-golf course for the kids. The park is family-focused and friendly with school holidays full and entertainment for the kids – including the big screen movies under the stars! You can even take the four-legged family members, as the park is pet friendly. The houseboat is a must see, fully equipped and deluxe. Tie the boat up to the back and motor out to your destination. Your sunrise and sunset views are determined by where you pull up and are sure to be magical.

time to head back to our perfectly positioned cabin. After talking to some

with a bit more knowledge. With two fish landed in two days, we were lucky

The beautiful view from one of the cabins. TACKLE • 6-7ft baitcaster rods from 8-25lb • 6-7.5ft spin rods from 6-10kg • 30-50lb braid • 50-100lb leader • 2500-4000 sized reels fellow anglers also staying at the Holiday Park, there was mention of barra being caught trolling points and bays close to the boat ramp, so this was to be our plan of attack for the next morning. USE THE LOCAL KNOWLEDGE If you are planning a trip to Monduran for the first time, it is well worth your while to book one of Rob’s charters on your first day and then explore yourself

NEW

WEBSITE

enough to be invited out by Rob to fish early morning before our departure. As well as managing the holiday park with his wife, Rob runs Guidelines Fishing Charters and really knows his way around the lake, having been a resident and fishing it for over 12 years. We met Rob at the boat ramp at 4am and within 30 minutes we arrived at the first and later to be final spot for the day, and started casting Jackall Squirrels at the timber structure. After sounding only a few barramundi on his Hummingbird unit, he decided to take us to another one of his productive fishing areas. Again sounding only a few fish, we then tried one more of his recommended locations before returning

The tackle store at the kiosk has everything you’ll need to get into some Monduran barra!

For more information please visit

to the first spot. Knowing the fish would show up eventually, on return we found a particular submerged tree that was showing good numbers of fish on the sounder and produced a fish on the second cast. We then proceeded to catch another five fish between three of us, measuring between 50-60cm. Rob’s knowledge was truly invaluable. WHY NOT VISIT YOURSELF In recent years Monduran has produced fish all year round, but peak times are March/ April and October/ November. During these months it is not unusual to catch fish through out the day and temperatures are much more comfortable for anglers. The winter fishery is something that peaked my interest. Fishing gentlemen’s hours with surface lures has to be worth a try… With 8 barramundi caught in total over the weekend (two by me) it was a great weekend all round and I recommend heading up to try it for yourself! GOLDEN BARRA COMPETITION Monduran is also host to one of the most interesting

fishing competitions in the country, and that’s the Bundaberg Toyota Golden Barra! There’s a chance for you to share in over $40,000! The golden barramundi have been released and anglers have from now until the end of January to lure in the prize. With five tagged fish now lurking in the waters of Lake Monduran, there are opportunities to win big! Ran from 1 November 2018 to 31 Janary 2019, no one caught any of the

tagged fish, and so it will be run again from September this year. The Bundaberg Toyota Golden Barra is just begging to be caught and the bragging rights will last a lifetime if you manage to snag this elusive fish at Lake Monduran. If that’s not enough to lure you in, more than $40,000 in prizes are up for grabs in one of the most exciting and unique fishing competitions Australia has ever seen! Registrations are now open!

Robbie’s second fish in as many minutes! LURES • Topwater – poppers, stickbaits, fizzers and frogs. • Hardbodies – jerk baits, suspending minnows, sinking stickbaits and swimbaits. • Soft plastics – grubs, paddle-tails and jerk shads.

WWW.WILSONFISHING.COM

MARCH 2019

It’s either devastating flood or severe drought TOOWOOMBA

Jason Ehrlich fishability1@bigpond.com

What a taste of weather extremes the state has endured over the last month. From the severe flooding up north to the dryness and heat in the south. As humans we feel it, but it doesn’t worry the fish too much. Townsville and the surrounding areas are copping a flogging with monsoonal rain. This flooding, while devastating, will be great for barra recruitment, offering the fish a passageway to breeding grounds and releasing landlocked fish to the salt. The stocked lakes don’t fare as well. The fish, which we would love to see grow out and spend their lives in the impoundments, are given the chance to escape. Tinaroo placed its nets across the dam wall to try to prevent escapee barra but none of the other lakes have this expensive barrier, which is subject to regulations. Townsville and further down at Mackay have a real chance of losing fish due to flooding. In some circumstances, the escaped fish will take up residence in the waters below the dam where they can be caught. In others, it is a death sentence where they are either bashed to death on the wild ride past the dam wall or suddenly inundate the fish market when commercial netters take advantage of them. In the south, things are also a little grim; only the effects are taking place a lot slower. The lake levels on the western dams are falling rapidly due to released water for irrigation. These fish seem to be coping, although there has been a few dead floaters. Whether this is due to poor handling of caught

fish, the heat or just low water levels is debatable. In many instances it is likely to be poor handling and this is the one thing we can influence. Get caught fish back into the water quickly if you plan to let them go. Spear them back to the deeper water as the surface is very hot at this time of year and the low oxygen content and sudden shock from the heat can take its toll on fish destined for release. Some of the river and creek fish are less fortunate. The drying waterways are forcing fish into the deeper holes, but as these dry up

the water becomes less habitable. Smaller pools are more affected by the heat and the heat quickly depletes the oxygen levels. While we can watch the water level drop slowly, when the quality of the water level drops too far, the outcome will be very sudden. We have all seen and heard about the devastation further south. Hopefully the heat eases up as we move into autumn. This will buy the fish more time. All it will take to fix things is a bit of widespread rain and run-off. Fingers crossed. Until next month, buckled rods from The Colonel!

14 31

Weipa

Toowoomba

BRISBANE

IMPOUNDMENT DAM

monitor water conditions and will re-open the dam when they deem it is safe. You can try to stay informed through the Toowoomba Regional Council website. • With Cressbrook and Cooby closed due to algae, Toowoomba anglers will need to do a few more miles to get into the fishing action. For all your fishing supplies and the latest reports the surrounding dams, call in to see Fish’n’Bits in Alderly Street. They have a great range of lures and fishing gear.

Gold Coast

24 1 Tinaroo Falls Dam 2 Peter Faust Dam 3 Burdekin Falls Dam 4 Eungella Dam 5 Teemburra Dam 6 Kinchant Dam 7 Cania Dam 8 Lake Monduran 9 Isis Balancing Storage 10 Wuruma Dam 11 Lenthalls Dam 12 Boondooma Dam 13 Bjelke-Petersen Dam 14 Lake MacDonald 15 Gordonbrook Dam 16 Borumba Dam 17 Somerset Dam 18 Wivenhoe Dam 19 Pindari Dam 20 Copeton Dam 21 Moogerah Dam 22 Maroon Dam 23 Leslie Dam 24 Connolly Dam 25 Coolmunda Dam 26 Clarrie Hall Dam (NSW) 27 Hinze Dam 28 Lake Cressbrook 29 Callide Dam 30 Lake Awoonga 31 Lake Samsonvale 32 Fairbairn Dam 33 Koombooloomba Dam 34 Cooby Dam

algae. The water quality was looking pretty poor, as signs of the algae were present in the upper layers of water. The Toowoomba Council will continue to

Ian Ryan scored this 50cm+ bass on a Gang Banger G2 spoon at Somerset Dam in between trolling up a heap of others.

SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND CRESSBROOK CLOSEST TOWN: CROWS NEST Last month, Cressbrook Dam was closed due to an outbreak of blue green

Gympie

Cairns 1

Townsville 2

3 4

Proserpine 6 Mackay

Rockhampton

Emerald 29 7

Highlighted dams are covered in this issue

Gladstone

30 8

Bundaberg 9

Maryborough

Roma

SOMERSET CLOSEST TOWNS: ESK, KILCOY Somerset fished quite well through the summer months and we can only imagine autumn will deliver similar results. The schools of bass didn’t break up as much as what they usually do and held around the same areas, making finding and catching fish easier. These bass schools will be found from Pelican Point right up to past Kirkleigh. Pelican Point seems to hold

BRISBANE

the better numbers but check the drop-offs and flats at the regular haunts like Bay 13, Eagles Nest, One Tree, Queen Street Wide, and the southern and northern flats at Kirkleigh. Insight Social Maps makes this task a lot easier. You can simply drive along the contour lines next to the old riverbed and speed up your search. These maps are downloadable to Simrad and Lowrance sounders. Trolling lures has

WATER STORAGE LEVELS Dam............................ % Full           

DAMS Atkinson Awoonga Bjelke-Petersen Boondooma Borumba Burdekin Falls Callide Cania Clarendon Cooby Coolmunda

DEC JAN FEB 5 5 5 83 82 79 15 14 10 36 38 35 99 99 97 66 85 170 61 58 56 86 83 79 0 0 0 38 0 0 24 27 19

Dam............................ % Full           

Copeton Cressbrook Dyer/Bill Gunn Eungella Fairbairn Glenlyon Hinze Julius Kinchant Koombooloomba Leslie Macdonald

18 14 12 45 42 41 3 6 4 85 88 102 16 14 12 36 25 17 96 93 95 76 73 102 55 86 98 20 47 69 7 7 6 99 100 95

Dam............................ % Full          

Maroon Monduran/Fred Haigh Moogerah North Pine/Samsonvale Peter Faust/Proserpine Pindari Somerset Teemburra Tinaroo Toonumbar Wivenhoe Wuruma

91 88 84 91 90 85 70 75 71 77 76 74 59 60 81 37 22 9 76 77 76 78 85 102 67 78 104 96 90 82 67 66 63 98 96 94

For fortnightly updates on Sunwater dams visit www.sunwater.com.au This symbol indicates that a Stocked Impoundment Permit is required to fish these dams. All figures are % readings Current as of 13/02/19

(All levels correct at time of going to press. Dam levels can change at any time, so please check with local authorities to ensure safe boating and fishing.) 60

MARCH 2019

been a great way to put fish in the boat over summer. The fish should continue to take these, but the action may slow down and they will prefer downsized offerings cast at them. If you are trolling, it is important to run light braid of 8lb or less to get lures down to the fish. The Blitz Baga, Golden Child and Little Ripper have been perfect. Colour can make a huge difference on some days, so make sure you experiment until you find the lures the fish prefer. Casting spoons and will be one of the best ways to bang numbers of fish. It is normal to nail a few in quick succession only to have the bite slow down. This is the time to move on 50-100m and try again. Leave the fish and come back to them and you will keep the bites coming throughout the day. Halco Twisty, Palms Slow Blatt, Gang Banger G2, PML Spoons and Nories Wasabi are good lures to try. Lures of 20g in weight tend to be the most reliable, but there are times when a heavier lure can do more damage. Tail spinners, Mask Vibes, blades, soft plastics, spinnerbaits and chatterbaits are just some of the other options available. Bass dictate what they feel like on the day, so be prepared and have a well-stocked tackle box. Golden perch are still around and will be caught when fishing the deeper water for bass. You can also switch it up and target these fish. There are good numbers above Kirkleigh on the flats and through the timber. Jigging ZX40 blades around timber is one successful method. Trolling medium divers through the timber will also produce. Try working lures around flats near the old creek and riverbeds up in the trees. • Somerset Fishing has their store based at the area above the day use boat ramp. The store is open over holidays and otherwise from Friday to Sunday. Orders can also be made online via the website www.

somersetfishing.com.au. They have an excellent range of gear suited to fishing for bass and golden perch. WIVENHOE CLOSEST TOWNS: FERNVALE, ESK The bass fishing has picked up over the last month. Many fish were still being caught along the banks through summer but it seems good numbers of fish are schooling in deeper water. The area out from Billies Bay is worth a look. The flats and humps in this area can hold good numbers of fish but be prepared to do a lot of searching. Catfish can fool you with their big schools. The bigger models of these pull hard and don’t hesitate in smashing a lure intended for bass or golden perch. Try trolling deep divers to locate the fish and then switch to casting once a school is located. Soft plastics and spoons are both good options. • Call in to see the team at Charlton’s Fishing at Redbank. They head out to the lake quite often, so you might be able to pump them for a few secrets and save some time by heading straight to the fish with the right lures. MAROON CLOSEST TOWNS: BEAUDESERT, BOONAH It is still spinnerbait time at Maroon. Over the warmer months, it is hard to beat spinnerbaits, beetle spin rigged plastics and chatterbaits fished tight around the weed edges. My favourite area has always been around the dam’s middle reaches in the southern bay, just before the timber. This location sees excellent weed growth. I recommend checking this spot out in daylight hours to study the weed formations with your polarised glasses. Understanding how the weed clumps grow will pay off when trying to pluck fish from the pockets and weed edge itself. As darkness falls, you will lose sight of the weed and can switch to topwater presentations. Maroon is one of Queensland’s best surface fisheries and the bass will commit to taking lures and flies on top until well after dark. Early

Somerset Dam’s Pelican Point just seems to keep producing big bass. This one was just under the magic 50cm mark. morning sessions will also produce surface action but the topwater feeding will cease as soon as the sun gets too bright. DYER CLOSEST TOWNS: GATTON, LAIDLEY Lake Dyer is still open to paddle craft and fishing from the shore. The puddle that is left is still producing bass and golden perch. Trolling or casting from kayaks and the shore will fool a few fish. They see quite a few lures in the small sections of deep water that remains. Blades, spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits are good options for this lake. The fish come in all sizes with the bigger bass and golden perch being well over 40cm long. • Gatton Home Brew, Camping and Fishing Supplies have the most accurate information about what is happening at the lake. If you have any questions about the fishing at Dyer (like what, where and when) make sure you call in. The store stocks a great range of tackle suited to fishing the dams around the area. NORTH PINE (LAKE SAMSONVALE) CLOSEST TOWN: BRISBANE, LAWNTON, PETRIE North Pine is still producing heaps of fish for

kayak anglers. There are several schools around in 4-8m of water and these are holding big numbers of smaller bass. The bigger models are harder to find and are only being caught sporadically. Trolling medium diving lures has been very productive while searching for fish. For those without a sounder, it is the only way to locate schools. Running a sounder on your kayak is really the only way to successfully locate and follow the movements of fish and will guarantee much better catches. When good schools are found, you can put the trolling lures away and start casting spoons, blades, spinnerbaits and tail spinners at the fish. For an update on the fishing and all the right advice and gear, call in to Tackle World Lawnton. These boys will be able to sort you out and ensure you stand a good chance of boating a few fish. KURWONGBAH CLOSEST TOWN: BRISBANE, LAWNTON, PETRIE Very few reports have come in from Kurwongbah, with a lot of the angling pressure directed at North Pine just up the road. This gives the fish a chance to have a spell and makes them more willing to eat.

FREE PHONE

(07)

Try the middle reaches of the lake. Casting spinnerbaits and blades to the edges will work in the mornings and afternoons. During the middle of the day, the fish may be found schooled on flats out in deeper water. Here, they can be caught on spoons, tail spinners and trolled lures. Kayak access is at Mick Hanfling Park off Torrens Road. A wash-down facility is in place to help avoid spreading the cabomba weed present in the lake. • Tackleworld Lawnton is an ideal port of call for all your fishing needs if fishing the lakes on the north side of Brisbane. The team can point you in the right direction and help you experience some awesome fishing close to the heart of Brisbane. SUNSHINE COAST REGION MACDONALD CLOSEST TOWNS: TEWANTIN, NOOSA You can really mix it up at MacDonald this month. The lake will be perfect for experimenting with a range of techniques and honing your skills. On the weed edges, spinnerbaits, lipless crankbaits and blades will pluck off the fish throughout the day. In the mornings and afternoons when the light

is low, switch to surface lures and fish them right on the weed edges or inside pockets and over submerged weed. The bass will be on the prowl in the shallows and smash these topwater offerings. Further up the dam, you may also encounter the occasional saratoga doing this. Deeper fish will also be found outside the weed edges and in the main basin on the deeper flats. These open water fish can be tempted with blades, spoons and tail spinners. If you find a good patch of these fish, expect to pull big numbers. BORUMBA CLOSEST TOWNS: IMBIL, NOOSA The action has been insane with heaps of quality bass and saratoga being caught. The best bass fishing has been inside the start of the timber where fish are suspending through the trees and sometimes up on the flats. When the fish are suspended, they can be trickier as you need to fish the lure through them without relying on the bottom as a depth gauge. If you struggle with this, choose a lure that is easier to hold depth like a spinnerbait, jig spin rigged prop bait or tail spinner. Up past the timber, big toga have been on the prowl in both arms. These fish will be encountered around the bankside structure and occasionally the snags in deeper water. Spinnerbaits and jig spin rigged plastics are perfect for exploring the water fast. The toga will also take surface lures and all manner of hardbodies when fished in the upper part of the water column. The trick is to cover heaps of water and cast at everything that looks fishy. An electric motor is ideal as you can power fish your way along a lot of edges in a session. • Davos at Noosaville has all the gear you’ll need to tackle the fish at Borumba and Lake MacDonald. The store caters well for fresh and saltwater anglers. They can be found in the Homemaker Centre on the corner of Mary and Thomas streets.

EXPRESS SHIPPING *For orders over $125.00 (conditions apply)

5536 3822

anglerswarehouse.com.au MARCH 2019

WHAT’S NEW FISHING POWERDOLPHIN WATER DRONE

ATOMIC HARDZ SLAPPA

PowerVision is launching the world’s first multi-functional water drone. Equipped with a 220° dual-joint rotation camera, the PowerDolphin can capture 4K UltraHigh-Definition footage. The camera can rotate 70° above water and 150° below the water, sending real-time 1080 pixel footage wirelessly to your phone through the Vision+ app, with a maximum transmission distance of 1000m. The drone includes adjustable front lights to capture stunning illuminated photography in various water conditions. The integrated PowerSeeker detects fish within a range of 40m and travels by waypoint to the perfect fishing spot, utilising the built-in sonar GPS to plot the ocean floor. It will tow hooks, lure fish, release bait and capture fish at a distance of up to 1000m. Once the fish takes the bait, the PowerDolphin will automatically drag itself back to the controller. The PowerDolphin can travel at a speed of 5m per second. A helpful technology for Australia’s lifesavers, PowerDolphin’s robust design and 3 speed gears enables it to tow and remotely release lifejackets, lifebuoys and other rescue equipment. Price: SRP $1299 www.powervision.me

The Atomic Hardz is one of the most popular lure brands in Australia, and the new Slappa has just arrived and has quickly proven itself on Murray cod up to 70cm and larger bass. The Atomic Slappa is a classic surface crawler designed to make maximum disturbance on the water. It is 90mm long and has large aluminium wings that fold against the body, enabling anglers to deliver a long accurate cast time and time again. The wide body displaces water and provides the point upon which it waddles across the surface. The small cupped face also spits water as it moves across the surface. Cast them for bass and cod, wind slowly and hold on! The Slappa is available in 14 colours, including both natural and brightly visible patterns, and also some glow colours for anglers casting at night. For more information on this and other new releases, visit the Atomic website or check them out on Facebook at facebook.com/ atomiclures. www.atomiclures.com.au

DAIWA FUEGO NATIVE CUSTOM

MAXIMA CLEAR

Bold in looks and impressive in design, the Fuego Native Custom is a baitcaster that definitely stands out from the crowd. The Fuego’s striking low profile aluminium frame sits effortlessly in the hand and combines with its advanced technologies and designs to ultimately impress in style and engage in performance. Weighing in at 215g, the Fuego Native Custom is lean and mean where it counts, yet refined and precision designed where it’s needed. It’s a combination that many reels aspire to have but few budget priced reels fully achieve. Featuring many of Daiwa’s best baitcaster design features including Magforce Z, UTD, Swept Handle, and a spec sheet that includes a 6.3:1 and 7.3:1 retrieve ratios, six ball bearings, the Fuego Native Custom is pimped and ready for baitcaster excellence. www.daiwafishing.com.au

NIKWAX SOLARWASH

In just two weeks of summer exposure, synthetic materials can lose up to half their strength, making them much more vulnerable to tearing and puncture. To save your expensive gear, and double its lifespan, simply apply both Nikwax SolarWash and SolarProof. Their combined presence forms a protective coating which helps to maintain the product’s exterior. Both sprays also individually increase UV resistance by 50% and form a waterproof shield against unwanted leakage. With the ability to remove dirt and other barriers that decrease water repellency, SolarWash is the perfect high-performance tool for protecting outdoor equipment. It increases the durable water repellency of a product to the highest testable standard after just one spray and rub-in. Both water-based sprays can be applied to wet or dry equipment that has been cleaned. For the best results, apply Nikwax SolarWash and SolarProof to brand new equipment. All Nikwax products are palm oil free, nonhazardous, water-based, biodegradable and contains zero fluorocarbons. Price: SRP $25.95 (SolarWash), $34.95 (SolarProof) www.nikwax.com

MARCH 2019

PRODUCT GUIDE 1

Maxima, a company that has produced quality monofilament fishing lines for decades, has now upped its game once again, with the introduction of Maxima Clear! The new Maxima Clear fishing line is incredibly strong and easy to handle, yet retains the tough, high-durability finish that maxima has always been known for. It has outstanding knot strength, exceptional abrasion resistance and low memory to improve casting distance. On top of that, its clear finish makes it difficult for fish to detect under water. Maxima Clear meets a wide range of freshwater and saltwater fishing situations, from casting and jigging to trolling and bottom fishing. It is available in Leader Wheels, with poundages between 1-30lb, Guide Spools, with poundages between 6-50lb, and Service Spools, with poundages between 2-130lb. There really is a Clear spool to meet just about any fishing situation. www.jmgillies.com.au

ZEREK GADGET Z TRAYS

Zerek has released an airtight range of storage trays to keep your tackle in the best shape possible. Worm proof and TPE plastic safe, the Gadget Z range from Zerek makes use of a large rubber seal to keep these boxes airtight, and this serves to prevent water from getting in to destroy the lures inside. Made from polypropylene material, the Gadget Z trays comes with removable compartment separators to allow the angler to design their own internal layout how they want, while maintaining the airtight seal to protect expensive lures. Additionally, three extra strong locking clasps are fitted to ensure the tight seal remains locked tight, regardless of how the boxes are stored or transported. Initially two models are available, the large size coming in at 360x230x50mm and the small at a compact 275x185x50mm. www.wilsonfishing.com

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

SCAN THE QR CODE!

PRODUCT GUIDE

WHAT’S NEW FISHING SHIMANO REVOLUTION SERIES 7

The newly revamped Revolution series brings 20 different rods to choose from in spin, jig, troll and surf, they’ve got you covered, whatever the target species. This is a wide-ranging series, consisting of light, medium and heavy spin, baitcast, jig, bluewater troll rods at value for money prices – in effect, almost every fishing style available in Australia. The new Revolution models have been updated with all-new fittings. Using Fuji O Ring guides, which have increased protection for the insert, Soft Touch reel seats for greater comfort during long fishing sessions, which complement the hard-wearing customshaped EVA fore and butt grips. The twopiece rods also have subtle ferruling system that you’d be hard pressed to pick. Utilising Shimano’s 24-30 Ton Toray graphite, the blanks the new Revolutions are built on combine casting performance – where applicable – with incredible lifting and fish fighting power. www.shimanofish.com.au

ZMAN TRD CRAWZ

Joining the already incredible line-up of various soft baits ZMan offers, the new TRD CrawZ is sure to fill a gap for those chasing crustacean-eating critters in fresh and saltwater. One thing that makes the TRD CrawZ so unbelievably effective is the fact that when it’s rigged on a NedLockZ jighead, it stands on its head, waving its claws like a real yabby defending itself. The buoyancy of the 10X ElaZTech material serves to make this feature even more life-like. The fins on the tail of the yabby resembles a tucked in tail, but also aids in helping this great bait glide naturally to the bottom on a slack line. Additionally, if rigged backwards, it can also glide in under structure! With 8 colours to choose from, this 2.5” bait will be perfect for the likes of bass, bream, yellowbelly and many, many more. www.tackletactics.com.au

SAMAKI WINDCHIME

The new Samaki Windchime shirt is saturated in colour; with a scale base for depth, they’ve added some key species to make your fishing senses come alive. Sailfish, barramundi, jewfish and mangrove jacks feature on the front and back, all erupting out of their hiding places to inhale lures. The lightweight fabric is perfect for all outdoor elements, protecting from the harsh sunrays with UV50+ resistant technology. The soft touch 100% polyester material is comfortable on the body, plus has the added feature of being breathable, keeping the angler cool and dry. Samaki designs are brought to you by Australian anglers who love to design Australian species. Windchime shirts are available in adult, youth and kids sizes from a size 2 through to a 2XL, allowing the whole family to get in on the action and out onto the water. Price: RRP from $49.95 www.samaki.com.au

DUO ROUGH TRAIL HYDRA

WARLOCK COD LOLLY

Long and lean and designed as the ultimate sinking stickbait for large predators, the new Duo Rough Trail Hydra 220 is the lure to pack for your next offshore adventure. Slim-profiled and with a fixed weight in the tail to maximise casting performance and enhance its action, the Hydra 220 features a dynamic skipping action when worked across the surface, while a twitch and jerk retrieve will see it move from side to side to enhance strikes. A hyper realistic garfish imitation when worked across the surface, the Hydra is ultra long (220mm) in length to reduce fishing swallowing and biting off the lure, while its tail-heavy, 58.2g body weight allows for long, tangle free casting on the water. If you’re looking to call up the predators to the surface the new Duo Rough Trail Hydra 220 is the lure to reach for. www.duo-australia.com.au

Just in time for big cod season, the Warlock Cod Lolly is here and ready to make an impact on the Murray cod fishing community. The Warlock Cod Lolly is suitable for the deeper dwelling fish that are a challenge to reach with other lures, and it has the ability to dive quickly to the required depth. This lure will get in the faces of big predators in their hidey-holes and put you I with more chances at landing that dream fish. The Cod Lolly has an incredibly enticing sideways swaying action that is irresistible to most predatory fish, especially big Murray cod in rivers and dams. The Cod Lolly is available in a range of striking colours and is very well built, with quality materials to handle the toughest predatory fish, and will see you through many memorable cod captures. www.jmgillies.com.au

SHIMANO TRANX 200

Shimano’s Tranx baitcaster series has been expanded, with the addition of a 200 size in two retrieve ratio options. Whether you’re chasing barra and threadies upstream or even big Murray cod, GTs and the like out the front, these are perfect for the job. These reals feature the CoreProtect system, which offers superior saltwater resistance through an internal water repellent and water resistant seal system. A large 48mm throw handle with double paddle assists cranking power and complements the 7.2:1 gear ratio (the 200A has a 6.2:1 retrieve speed). Featuring Shimano’s Hagane Body, the Tranx holds 170m+ of 30lb braid, and boasts a 5.5kg Cross Carbon drag. The new SVS Infinity casting controls make these reels a precision caster’s dream by adjusting the external brake adjustment dial. A longer handle and three SA-RB bearings plus one roller bearing provide almost effortless winding. Shimano recommends pairing the Tranx 200 with a JDM Dialuna or revamped Revolution series rod. www.shimanofish.com.au

Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au MARCH 2019

WHAT’S NEW FISHING SAMAKI SKITCH X

OKUMA KOMODO 13 SS 273

Samaki Skitch X offers you a new range taking Skitch into the future. With an extended history of Skitch and Skitch Nano, Skitch X has combined all of its predecessors fantastic features and rolled them into the one. The X factor in the Skitch X is obvious in its ultra slick cosmetics with a sleek black blank encased in X weave wrap, a powerful performance feature, ultra hard EVA grips for comfort and support as well as striking blue details and carbon fibre locking rings. The Samaki Skitch X has been created for every angler across the nation, from Barra fishing enthusiasts with a 6’0ft cast and spin model , to the estuary fisherman taking advantage of light and medium spin 7’ models, offering the ever so popular slug spinning 9’ model plus the famous 6’6” and 7’ heave models which are designed to give you the grunt you require when fishing heavier slugs. Price: from SRP $99.95 www.samaki.com.au

ZEREK AFFINITY

The Zerek Affinity is a 220mm long, 3-jointed floating swimbait originally designed for large bass and pike, but built to accommodate the brutal fisheries that are Murray cod and barramundi. Constructed with a tough ABS plastic body that is supported by through wire construction to ensure durability, the Affinity features a unique joint section that creates a smooth sliding action during retrieve. With its large profile, the Affinity is the prefect size for massive predators that are feeding on larger baitfish in the fresh or the salt, and with the addition of the two provided removable weights (10g and 20g), the Affinity can target them at any depth. The removable weight concept keeps the extra weight perfectly hidden, and balances the lure’s action whether you’re using the lure unweighted or with the chin weights. Unweighted, the Affinity weighs in at 96g and comes in 10 very lifelike colours. www.wilsonfishing.com

RAPALA BC400

MARCH 2019

The Okuma Komodo SS Series of baitcast reels has made a name for itself in big fish circles, taking on species such as barramundi, Murray cod, PNG black bass and offshore jigging targets, thanks to its stainless steel main gear, pinion gear, drive and spool shafts, offering the ultimate power, combined with impressive drag outputs. The compact and much anticipated 200 Series models are now available, including the KDS-273 and KDS-273LX (left hand). Both models fit neatly in the palm, boast 9kg of drag, a gear ratio of 7.3:1 and a line capacity of 0.29mm/205m. They boast a heavy-duty build, heavy drag capabilities and plenty of line capacity in a compact size. This feature-packed reel also includes precision Japanese ABEC-5 spool bearings, 6-pin Velocity Control casting system, Spool Access Port, rigid diecast aluminium frame and side plates with CRC: Corrosion Resistant Coating process, A6061-T6 machined aluminium, anodized spool, multi-disc high output Carbonite drag system, dual antireverse for maximum reliability, Zirconium line guide, synchronized level wind optimized for braid, and more. Price: SRP $389.90 www.okuma.com.au

SKY RIGGER

A new drone fishing device invented by NSW anglers Jaiden Maclean and Byron Leal has launched after more than two years’ research and development. The pair created the patented Sky Rigger following the viral success of their Drone Fishing for Tuna video, which achieved hundreds of millions of views across the world. At the time, they used a makeshift device to attach their rig to a drone and deliver the bait from the beach out beyond the breakers, and within 24 hours they landed a 20kg tuna. The success of the video inspired them to develop a new drone accessory to make the sport safe and accessible for everyone. The Sky Rigger, distributed by Sea Ulcer, attaches to DJI Phantom drones. Its unique, foolproof design ensures the safety of the drone while allowing unimpeded use of its camera so anglers can capture unique unseen fishing action. Price: SRP $199 www.seaulcer.com

BLACK MAGIC 15 FLEA

The new Rapala BC400 is the ultimate all-round oversized baitcast reel. Whether you are casting large swimbaits for Murray cod and barramundi, or slow pitch jigging reefs for demersal species, the BC400 is the ultimate crossover reel. It also features six ball bearings and a large over-sized handle, and the 6.3:1 gear ratio allows the angler to wind fast when needed, making this reel a very versatile fish catching weapon. The CNC machined alloy spool has a line capacity of 200m/0.33mm of 50lb braid, and is easily accessible with a quick switch side plate, allowing for quick and easy maintenance on or off the water. Carbon fibre drag washers with a drag output of 10kg/22lb, centrifugal brake system, precision machined brass gear and a one-way clutch system will see you stopping and landing that fish of a lifetime. Check it out at your favourite tackle store. www.rapala.com.au

PRODUCT GUIDE

Like the Maggot lure before it, the wellknown Black Magic Flea has had a refresh with some great looking new skirt colours added to the range Coupled with some of the old favourites, anglers can now select from 10 colour options to suit their preferences. For those who aren’t familiar with the Flea, it’s a 200mm lure ideally suited for tuna, but it’s got a great record with other pelagic species like mahi mahi, sailfish and marlin. The head itself is 30mm in length and is a cup face pusher with a small reverse taper. That gives it a nice wriggly trolling action with a good bubble trail. Black Magic recommends using up to 200lb leader with this lure and a 7/0 game hook. The last point worth noting is that all the heads have good UV content which you’ll see if you place them under a UV light. You’ll notice UV content in some of the skirts and there are glowing lumo versions too – all extra attraction for your target species. www.blackmagictackle.com

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

SCAN THE QR CODE!

PRODUCT GUIDE

WHAT’S NEW FISHING

Unique Yamashita Eginno Pyonpyon new on the squid scene

TESTED

Anybody who enjoys squid fishing, whether it is an obsession or an occasional flirtation, would or should know the Yamashita brand of squid jigs. Yamashita’s innovation is second to none, and the jigs in their various iterations are available at an affordable price. I have accumulated a significant collection of Yamashita jigs over the years. It has been difficult to walk past them in a tackle store and not at least grab one or two. Eginno Pyonpyon It can be interesting to find out the translations of Japanese product names. In this case, ‘Eginno’ is the combination of egi (squid) with innovation, and Pyonpyon means ‘jump jump’, like the flicking of a prawn. Like all Yamashita jigs, these new jigs have some unique and interesting features to attract cephalopods to them. All of these features are based around mimicking a prawn in the water. The first thing you’ll notice is the folding front flap. It is designed to fold back on the cast to assist with casting distance, and will then fold out during your retrieve to create a unique water resistance. The goal is to create an effect that’s similar to

The author with a handful of South Australian cephalopod. that of a prawn swimming. I assumed that the design would give the jig a bit of a sideto-side action like it does with a lure, but this was not the case. There was no visible action created by the bib, but it does slow the decent of the lure. This is ideal when you’re fishing shallow water for the likes of tiger squid in Queensland, as you can fish far more slowly, keeping the jig in the zone for longer. The next feature that’s a bit different is the addition the leg feathers. Video of the jig underwater show that these feathers need minimal movement of the jig for them to move and sway, similar to that of a prawn swimming. I suspect that for squid, with their high sense of vision, this additional movement would further spark interest in the jig. The Search Rattle in Yamashita jigs is a feature I have always liked, and I am glad it is in the Eginno Pyonpyon. I was lucky enough to speak to one of the members of the Yamashita research and development team a number of years ago about this. He explained to me that they had put a huge amount of hours into creating the correct pitch in the Search Rattle – 600hz to be exact. At 600hz the Search Rattle mimics a feeding sound that hungry squid

The Yamashita Eginno Pyonpyon looks a little different from conventional squid jigs. Different in this case is full of Yamashita innovation. are attracted to. How’s that for attention to detail? My experience with the Yamashita rattling jigs is that you will have occasions where if you are not using a rattling jig, you may as well not be fishing. It really can make all the difference. Last but not least are the 490 Glow Beads. These have been inserted into the body of the jig to create the unique glow a prawn emits in the water. This is not a feature of all the colours in the range, however, as some are UV enhanced instead. From the packet to the water It is one thing to be different, but that difference also needs to work. I was given a couple of jigs in the 3.5, 18g size, and my plan was to use them in the squidrich waters around Port Vincent in South Australia. From a squid fishing perspective, this is a magnificent place as you have plenty of options, whether you’re landbased or fishing from a boat.

Even the smallest squid enveloped the jig. There was no questioning they wanted it! The marina wall was my first port of call, and I realised pretty quickly that I had to fish the Eginno jig a little differently from other jigs. With traditional jigs I generally use quite a strong whipping action, with a short to medium pause in between. I found that although this retrieve did work with the Eginno, the 3.2 second per metre drop rate of the jig meant that my pause needed to be longer. I also found that the Eginno didn’t whip from side to side like a standard jig, but instead hopped up and up, moving out of the strike zone. More subtle hops were better, and I didn’t have to worry about the jig plummeting into the structure below. Looking back at it now, it was a more finesse presentation, which was ideal during the Christmas holiday break. There was certainly plenty of fishing pressure on the local squid, and we had more success than most. This also proved to be the case out of the boat. The slower presentation had the jig in the zone for longer, and the squid couldn’t resist them.

I think part of the reason for our success was the hook-up location of the Eginno jigs. In 10 days of fishing them I had zero just tentacle hook-ups. Even the smallest squid enveloped the jig. The majority of the hook-ups were in the

The author was impressed with the hook-up points when using the Eginno jig. Most squid were hooked in the prime location between the eyes, with no tentacle hook-ups.

The result of a couple of hours testing the Yamashita Eginno Pyonpyon.

sweet spot between the eyes. You get maximum result for effort when you are hooking them there. Final thoughts I didn’t think I needed more squid jigs, but I have now changed my mind. There are enough differences in the Eginno jigs, and situations where they would be the best option, that I’ve decided to get a few more. Bring on the squid season here in Southeast Queensland, because I can’t wait to use the Yamashita Eginno jigs on the tiger squid around the Moreton Bay islands. I think the Eginnos will be perfect for the shallow water presentation required to target these squid. The Eginno jigs are available in two sizes (3.0/15g and 3.5/18g). Both sink at the same rate and are available in eight colours. To find out more about the Yamashita Eginno range, and the other Yamashita jigs available, go to www.ejtodd.com.au or check out their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ Yamashita.Australia. - Peter Jung

MARCH 2019

Pirtek Fishing Challenge

Ready to enter the world’s biggest fishing comp? Australians across all states and territories are being encouraged to prepare their fishing gear for the 2019

Pirtek Fishing Challenge. The Challenge is a major fundraising initiative that helps to raise funds for Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA) and awareness of the disease. More than 17,000 men are

major fundraising partner for the Peter Duncan Neurosciences Research Unit. The challenge is an online

national fishing competition open to all ages and experience levels. All competitors receive a limited-edition cap, brag mat and sticker, along with a redemption voucher for a bottle of Pirtek Protect, which is lanolin grease that has been

on the brag mat with their angler number and upload the photo to the website for judging.

BCF spending spree; eight Snap-On Tools 100-piece tool kit valued at $600 and a Valvoline $500 oils and lube pack. Spotter sunglasses are also supplying their awesome polarized eyewear. One of the big attractions of the challenge is the $90,000 in cash supplied by Pirtek Fluid Systems and divided across the 25-target fish nationally. This is awarded via a ‘mystery length’ a secret measurement determined by the event organizers. Michael Guest, Event Director, says the challenge is designed to allow people of all ages and experiences to get involved and enjoy a day outdoors. “It doesn’t matter whether you are an experienced angler or picking up a rod for the first time, the Pirtek Fishing Challenge is all about getting

together with your friends and family, having fun and supporting our charity partners,” he said. “Prostate cancer continues to affect thousands of families each year, and sadly almost every Australian knows someone who is affected by the disease.” “The Pirtek team and I

will continue to do all we can to give PCFA and The Peter Duncan Neurosciences Research Unit the support they need.” For more information and to register visit www. pirtekfishingchallenge.com. au. Registrations cost $25.00, plus postage and handling. – Pirtek Fishing Team

The list of 25 target species will be released to competitors on Sunday, 24 February to allow all anglers time to plan their fishing trips. This year, the Challenge is offering a record $213,000 in cash and prizes. Just by entering, all registered participants will be in the running to win a boat, outboard and trailer package valued at over $29,000 courtesy of Stacer/Evinrude. Along with two $2600 Snap On Tool chests, $2000 worth of Berkley/ABU Garcia fishing tackle, a $2000 Lowrance Hook2 12 Sonar/GPS, $1700 YOUR CHALLENGE • Enter the challenge via the website and be sure to read the terms and conditions. • After you have registered, a limited edition Fishing Challenge cap and Fishing Challenge brag mat will be posted to you.

diagnosed with prostate cancer in Australia every year. Pirtek has been partners with Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia since 2009 to help raise vital funds for prostate cancer research, awareness initiatives and support programs by hosting Australia’s biggest single day fishing competition. The challenge is also a

• The list of target species will be available via the website www.pirtekfishingchallenge.com.au at 1200 hours AEDST on Sunday, 24 February 2019. designed specifically for the marine and fishing industry. It can be redeemed at any one of the 98 Pirtek outlets around Australia. You can find these locations at www. pirtek.com.au. This year’s challenge will take place on Sunday 17 March 2019 between the hours of 6.00am-6.00pm. Competitors need to fish for their chosen species, photograph their catch

• On Saturday, 16 March 2019 (after 6:00pm) you will be sent via email a repeat list of the target species plus your angler number. You can also log on to the website to download this information. • Fishing will commence at 6:00am and finish at 6:00pm on Sunday, 17 March 2019. • All lines must be out of the water at 6:00pm on Sunday, 17 March 2019. • When you catch your target species simply lay the live fish with the nose in line with the ‘0’ (zero) measurement on the Pirtek bragmat. • Photograph the fish so the entire length can be seen in the photograph along with your angler number. • Check out the Photographing Your Fish page for information on how to correctly photograph your catch.

MARCH 2019

• If you do not receive your brag mat before Sunday 17 March, you may measure and photograph your fish using last year’s brag mat, a fisheries measuring sticker, another competitors mat (with your Angler Number), or a generic brag mat (BCF sell them). • If you are not happy with the photograph, simply take another one. • Quickly release the fish and try to catch a bigger one. • Only a fish caught by the registered angler can be entered. • Any photograph that shows a fish not alive or damaged will not be accepted. • Any photograph which has undergone digital manipulation, i.e., photoshop, will be disqualified. • You can only upload one photograph per angler to the website. This needs to be your biggest fish. • Follow the directions on the website to upload your photograph. • The upload needs to be complete by 7:00am AEDT, Monday, 18 March 2019. • Any photographs uploaded after this time will not be accepted.

• Remember to write your angler number clearly in the white box provided on the brag mat.

• If your photograph is damaged, blurry or the overall measurement of your fish is not clearly seen with your angler number the photograph will be disallowed.

• Check your photograph to ensure the whole fish is in the photograph and the nose end of the fish is in line with the ‘0’ (zero) measurement and the overall length along with the angler number is clearly visible.

• Check the website on Saturday, 23 March, 2019 to see if you’re a winner. The National Fishing Challenge committee’s decision will be final and no correspondence entered into.

Pirtek Fishing Challenge

WHITING

BASS

Lures: Bass take a variety of lures from surface lures, diving lures, lipless crankbaits, spinnerbaits, soft plastics, jigs and even flies. Match your lures to suit where and how the bass are feeding.

BARRAMUNDI Tactics: Barramundi are veracious predators of the estuary, and love eating the baitfish and prawns that abound in these waterways. It’s for this reason that live baits, lures and flies work so well for this iconic species.

COASTAL

Size Range: Up to 1.1m, commonly caught 30-65cm.

Lures: Most lures work well on flathead, the trick is to have it in their face. Lures such as soft plastics, vibes, lipless crankbaits and hardbodied lure all take flathead, and they’ve been known to chase down swimbaits and surface lures as well.

Bait: Baits as varied as scrubworms, corn, bread, dough, shrimp and grubs are all attractive to carp and the use of berley will increase your success rate dramatically. Lures: Carp will take lures, usually as by-catch. Fly anglers can target carp in shallow water by sight fishing with small nymphs.

GOLDEN PERCH Size Range: Up to 75cm, commonly caught at 25-50cm. Tactics: Lures and live baits are popular, and they also love to hunt down worms and grubs set on the bottom. Lures cast around fallen timber in rivers and standing timber in lakes are all successful, especially around first and last light, and the warmer periods of the year are generally preferred. Rigs: Running sinker rig and a paternoster rig are both good options with 20lb braided main line to 20lb leader. The same line weights can be used for lure fishing. Bait: Baits of yabby, live shrimp, worms and even smelly dead baits are successful. Lures: Lures like Australian-made hardbodied lures, spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits all do damage on yellowbelly.

Tactics: Trevally generally prefer fast-moving prey, and will happily chase down lures and flies wound as fast as an angler can wind or strip. There are times when a slow approach will outshine a fast one, particularly for species like golden trevally in shallow water. Rigs: An unweighted live bait rig is a great way to tangle with a large trevally on bait, however simple weighted rigs may be needed if concentrations are found deep. Heavy monofilament or fluorocarbon up to 100lb or more may be necessary.

COASTAL

Rigs: A medium running sinker rig, paternoster rig or float rig with 6-20lb braided line onto a 10-20lb leader. Anglers can obviously go lighter in clear water free of snags.

Size Range: Many trevally species can exceed 1m, however are common in the 40-70cm range.

MURRAY DARLING BASIN

Tactics: Smelly baits are very effective for carp. Carp will also get up into shallow water and mooch along the bottom looking for aquatic insects, and this is where fly anglers can have some fun, sometimes landing some huge specimens.

TREVALLY (ALL SPECIES)

MURRAY DARLING BASIN

Size Range: Up to 1m, but more commonly encountered at 30-60cm.

Bait: Live baits of mullet, herring, whiting and prawn are excellent for barramundi.

Lures: There are so many purpose-built barramundi lures on the market, ranging from soft plastics, hardbodies (shallow and deep), topwater baits and flies. The tricky part is finding out which will work on that particular day.

Bait: Flathead will eat anything they can fit in their mouth, whether it’s live, dead, big or small.

CARP

Rigs: An unweighted live bait rig is perfect for barramundi fishing, and a running sinker rig should be employed if you want to get the bait down a bit.

COASTAL

Size Range: Up to 1.8m, common around 50-70cm.

FLATHEAD

Rigs: A running sinker rig with 6lb braid with a 15lb leader is sufficient for bait fishing. The same goes for lure fishing, but try to attach your lures with a loop knot where possible to maximize the action of the lure.

Bait: Worms and yabbies (nippers) are two baits that are rarely met with failure. Lures: Small hardbodies, plastics, and more recently, surface lures have all taken plenty of whiting in the last decade. Often, the bigger whiting will be the ones that take lures.

Bait: Grasshopper, cricket, worms, yabbies, and particularly live shrimp are successful.

Tactics: Flathead are classic ambush predators that use camouflage to their advantage, often burying themselves in sand or mud when awaiting their prey. Drop offs, weed edges, hard rock and mud edges are all great spots for flathead. Flathead have a preference for tidal movement, either running in or running out, and don’t feed as much when the water is slack.

Rigs: A running sinker rig with a long leader, tiny long shank hook is enough to fool a whiting, even in shallow water. Light braided line around 4lb with a 2-4lb leader is an excellent balance for the anglers throwing lures at wily whiting.

Bait: Live fish, squid prawns and even crabs will bring the bigger and more predatory trevally unstuck. Lures: A huge range of lures will work, but particularly those that can be worked quickly. Hardbodies, soft plastics, surface lures, flies and metal lures will all catch trevally.

MURRAY COD Size Range: Up to 1.8m, common from 40-80cm. Tactics: Murray cod are a structure-loving and territorial species. Therefore, lures or baits fished or cast around big snag complexes repetitively usually get a response eventually. During periods of low light, they will often leave their lairs in search of food. Rigs: 20-30lb should be your minimum line weights for both your mainline and leader. Lures: Murray cod will eat a variety of surface lures, hardbodies, lipless crankbaits and spinnerbaits. As with bait, lures should be big and annoying to achieve the best results.

MURRAY DARLING BASIN

Rigs: Light braided line around 4-6lb with a fluorocarbon or monofilament leader around 8-14lb is preferred for lure fishing. The same applies for bait fishing, with unweighted, weighted and floated rigs working, depending on how deep and where the fish are holding.

Tactics: Whiting love clear and shallow water where they grub around for yabbies, worms and other tasty tidbits. By targeting these areas with your baits or lures, you’ll encounter plenty of whiting, as well as other interesting by-catch.

COASTAL

Tactics: Bass in rivers love structure, but when they spawn in winter, they will school up in open water around the tidal reaches. Bass can be a little different in the dams. If there are bony bream or other schooling baitfish present, the bass will usually school up in deep water, chasing the smaller bony bream. If there is a lot of structure around the edges and the food source in predominately insects, small fish and shrimps, the bass will feed in shallow water. Fishing where the bass are with lures or bait that mimics what food source is available is the preferred approach.

COASTAL

Size Range: Up to 50cm, more common from 20-40cm.

Size Range: Up to 65cm, common from 30-40cm.

MARCH 2019

News

Six month update shows us lots about anglers SUNTAG

Stefan Sawynok

Suntag has been busy over the past six months, with members actively

tagging across the state. An interesting note has been that bass have exceeded barramundi in the past six months, which is a first, although

barramundi are expected to overtake bass in the annual total. In all, 9128 fish have been tagged, which is down a small amount on the same

period in the prior year when 9243 fish were tagged. This year so far has ushered in some positive changes. The species mix has changed, with species

Locations where fishers have come from to fish the Fitzroy in 2018. DRIVERS OF FISHING EFFORT IN THE FITZROY RIVER There are a number of drivers that influence fishing effort and in turn the number of recaptures of tagged fish. These factors influence the number of visiting fishers that come to the Fitzroy. • The barramundi season (Feb-Oct). • River flows and flooding. • Winter water temperatures. • Catch rates for barramundi and king threadfin and the number of trophy fish over 1m.

Percentage of visiting fishers (2013-2018). 86

MARCH 2019

TOP 10 SPECIES TAGGED FROM 1 JULY TO 31 DECEMBER 2018 MAP AUSTRALIAN BASS BARRAMUNDI DUSKY FLATHEAD MANGROVE JACK PIKEY BREAM BARRED JAVELIN YELLOWFIN BREAM KING THREADFIN GOLDSPOTTED ROCKCOD BLACKSPOTTED ROCKCOD like dart, maori rockcod, tailor and queenfish being tagged more frequently, showing fishers are being more adventurous. The balance of regions has changed as well. Brisbane and Central Queensland still dominate, but there is a greater balance across the state. The top three locations for example span the state from Townsville to Brisbane. Overall, Suntag is in healthy shape and fishers are making a significant contribution to monitoring the recreational fishery in Queensland. HOW HAS THE FITZROY NET FREE ZONE CHANGED VISITOR PATTERNS? Suntag data has been used for a lot of projects over the years, with the one thing they have had in common being tracking fish. It takes some imagination, but what if tags could instead be used to track people? That has in fact been done and the results help to answer questions on how visitor traffic has changed in the Rockhampton Net Free Zone. So how does this work? For some time, whenever a fish is recaptured in Central Queensland,

NUMBER 2123 1608 1083 683 466 433 360 336 242 208

the fisher postcode is recorded. Reporting of recaptures is close to a random sampling process, though there are some potential biases on the data. As an example, local fishers may be more likely to report than visitors (or vice versa), which there are tests on the data that can be applied, but that is work yet to be done. That said, the figures are similar to those provided from Queensland Fisheries based on boat ramp survey data and reporting of recaptures and as the data dates back to 2013, this is the only true before and after datasets available. What the data shows is there are strong indicators that visitor traffic has improved consistently since the implementation of the Net Free Zone. The data certainly reflects business activity in Rockhampton, with multiple charter operators now operating in the region. Stimulation of business was one of the goals of the original announcement of a Net Free Zone and so far both business and visitor data are showing that is what has happened. Will a net free zone stimulate traffic? Not necessarily. One of the

Number of recaptures with postcodes and percentage of visiting fishers (2013-2018).

News TOP 10 SPECIES TAGGED FROM 1 JULY TO 31 DECEMBER 2018 MAP LAKE SAMSONVALE FITZROY RIVER HALIFAX BAY MORETON BAY BUNDABERG CURTIS ISLAND GLADSTONE IMBIL RODDS BAY HINCHINBROOK CHANNEL

NUMBER 1148 969 736 655 303 287 242 235 201 197

reasons why Rockhampton has benefited the most so far from visitor traffic and business development has been the actions of Rockhampton Regional Council. The Rockhampton Council was very fast out of the blocks in seeing the potential of a Net Free Zone and developing business development and management plans. That is a critical ingredient, community groups don’t have the resources to lead that sort of effort, on the other hand the rewards for councils investing in such

Percentage of visiting fishers in Rocky Barra Bounty (2013-2018).

SUMMARY OF VISITING FISHERS • There has been a significant increase in visitors fishing the Fitzroy River. • The percentage of recaptures by visiting fishers was a low of 9.3% in 2013 and a high of 23.0% in 2018. • For the Barra Bounty, participation by visiting fishers was a low of 22.5% in 2015 and a high of 40.1% in 2018. • Recaptures in 2018 were highest in the first month (Feb) and the last month (Oct) of the barramundi season. • There were no recaptures by visiting fishers in Dec. • Recaptures by locals and visitors were low in Mar-Apr following a minor flow in the river producing turbid conditions. • Recaptures were low in Jul due to low winter water temperatures affecting catches. • In 2018 the highest percentage of recaptures by visitors was in Nov at 34.8%. • In 2018 most visiting fishers were from Gladstone, Central Qld and SE Qld. • From 2013-2015 percentage recaptures by visitors in Gladstone was higher while from 2016-2018 recaptures by visitors in the Fitzroy were higher than in Gladstone. • Gladstone recaptures by visitors is closely linked to barramundi spilling from Lake Awoonga into the Boyne. • River with a spill in 2017 increasing the percentage of visitors. plans are new opportunities for the local economy. A net free zone isn’t always essential to development of a fishery, but a leadership, planning and co-ordination of key players is critical. REVIEW OF VISITOR PATTERNS 2013-2018 One of the objectives of the Net Free Zone introduced

in 2015 was to improve fishing tourism. There are no direct measures of changes in visiting fishers, however there are some useful indirect measures. Postcodes of fishers recapturing tagged fish in the Fitzroy River, postcodes of participants in the Rocky Barra Bounty fishing competition, and postcodes

of fishers recapturing tagged fish in Gladstone area for comparison are some examples. Visiting fishers are defined by those traveling over 100km to fish in the river and Port Alma and the review is from 20132018 to provide some level of before and after comparison.

Monthly recaptures and river flow during the 2018 barramundi season (Feb-Oct).

Monthly recaptures and percentage by visitors in 2018.

Summary of postcodes of visitors in 2018.

Comparing visitor fisher recaptures postcodes from Fitzroy and Gladstone. MARCH 2019

Trades, Services, Charter BOAT MODIFICATIONS & REPAIRS

BAIT & TACKLE

CUSTOM ALLOY FABRICATION

SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND BCF www.bcf.com.au

• Boat repairs & fitouts • Bait tanks • Transom rebuilds • Fuel tanks • Consoles

Davo’s Tackleworld Noosaville (07) 5449 8099 Davo’s Tackleworld Marcoola (07) 5448 8244

OVER 20 YEARS FABRICATING AND WELDING ALUMINIUM

Lazer Lures – www.lazerlures.com.au Tackle Warehouse Brisbane (07) 3398 6500

BOAT HIRE // HOUSE

MINN REPAIRS & SERVICING

GOLD COAST

Great family and fishing boats! + 50km of sheltered waterways on the Gold Coast’s Broadwater + No Licence required + Boats from $274 per night + 2-12 berth

CALL FOR A DEAL

CUSTOM TRANSOMS 20-75hp $750 75-150hp $890 150-225hp $980 Freight can be arranged Australia wide

PROFISH BOATS – Phone Peter 0417 782 114 Email: peter@profishboats.com www.profishboats.com

+ 07 5502 6200 + www.coomerahouseboats.com.au

NEW

Salt-Away www.salt-away.com.au

TINNIE HIRE AVAILABLE

Minn Repairs & Servicing Call Troy 0412 605 080 – W: minnrepairs.com minnrepairsservicing E: minnrepairs@gmail.com

MARINE MECHANICS // MOBILE

FRASER COAST

WYNUMM MANLY-BAYSIDE

Lake Monduran House Boat www.lakemonduranhouseboathire.com.au

Wondall Rd Marine (07) 3396 5633

Rainbow Beach Houseboats (07) 5486 3146

BOAT HIRE // TRAILER GOLD COAST

Boat Wrap Specialist www.xfactorsigns.com

Boab Boat Hire - 1300 002 622

SAMPLE AD - BUSINESS NAME This is where your copy will appear. You will have approximately 50 words within a 8x2 ad size.

$590 + GST for 6 Months

SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND ASM Mobile Welding Brisbane 0409 624 402 Bluewater Windscreens Brisbane (07) 3382 7883 Boat Collar (07) 5441 3636 CMC Marine Sales 0409 910 808 Iconic Boats Brisbane 0475 311 447 Marine Windows and Doors Brisbane (07) 3284 5088 Small Craft Electrics (mobile) 0408 063 064

MARINE MECHANICS

nkelly@fishingmonthly.com.au BOAT PAINTING BRISBANE

FIBREGLASS Brisbane South and Gold Coas t

• Modifications • Detailing • Repairs JOE BONNICI

0410 480 203

MARINE TRAILERS Oceanic Boat Trailers (07) 5597 0577 Sea-Link Special Trailers (07) 3881 3568 Spitfire Trailers (07) 0400 866 323 Tinnie Tosser (07) 5498 7339

MARINE ELECTRONICS

MARINE ELECTRONICS SALES • REPAIRS • INSTALLATIONS

ONSITE AND MOBILE INSTALLATIONS

• Sounders • GPS • Electric Motors • Marine Radios and accessories • Stereos • Televisions • Radar Units • Autopilots

$449 USD (includes shipping)

www.hydrowaveaustralia.com GOLD COAST

Brisbane Boat Painting 0433 356 620

Repairs

• All electric motor brands • Australia wide freight • Quick turn around • Authorised Minn Kota/Watersnake repairer

T&S Marine (07) 5546 2599 Whitewater Marine (07) 5532 4402

SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND Brisbane Yamaha (07) 3888 1727 Caloundra Marine (07) 5491 1944 Capalaba Boat Centre 04011 728 379 Coorparoo Marine (07) 3397 4141 Cunningham Marine Centre (07) 3284 8805 Holt Marine (07) 3353 1928 Northside Marine (07) 3265 8029 Stones Corner Marine (07) 3397 9766

NORTH QUEENSLAND Reef Marine Mackay (07) 4957 3521

www.trymax.com.au PHONE: 07 3245 3633

Unit 4/1440 New Cleveland Road Capalaba

MARINE OUTBOARD WRECKERS TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND North Queensland Outboard Wreckers Townsville 1800 812 748

FISH TAXIDERMY Fish Taxidermist www.fishtaxidermy.net.au or 0428 544 841

FISHING GUIDES CENTRAL QUEENSLAND Lake Monduran Barra Charters 0407 434 446

TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND Hooked On Hinchinbrook www.hookedonhinchinbrook.com

This section in QLD Fishing Monthly consolidates the trades and services in your area that are relevant to your fishing and boating. Whether you’re a local looking for more options or a travelling angler fishing around the state, this guide will direct you to reputable businesses in the area you’re searching. 88

MARCH 2019

Boats & Guided Fishing Tours Directory MARINE TRIMMERS SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND Affordable Boat Covers Gold Coast 0419 424 587 Brisbane Yamaha (07) 3888 1727 Rays Canvas & Marine Caboolture (07) 5499 4911 Rowland Street Boat Trimmers Springwood (07) 3208 9511

Dave Gaden’s Yamba • Deep Sea

REEL TIME FISHING CHARTERS

ALL YOUR FISHING MONTHLY GEAR

The Islander Retreat, South Stradbroke Island 0420 967 557

HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION FRASER ISLAND Apurla Island Retreat 0437 739 121 Cathedrals on Fraser (07) 4127 9177 Eurong Beach Resort 1800 111 808 Fraser Island Beach Houses 1800 626 230 Waddy Lodge on Fraser 0414 516 364 Yidney Rocks (07) 4127 9167

CENTRAL QUEENSLAND Baffle Creek Holiday House 0419 624 833

COOKTOWN River of Gold Motel 4069 5222

MACKAY BEL AIR MOTEL, MACKAY - PLENTY OF ROOM FOR BOATS AND TRAILERS.............PH: 07 4957 3658 FRESHWATER Lake Boondooma Caravan Park (07) 4168 9694 Lake Cressbrook Regional Council 131 872 Yallakool Caravan Park on Bjelke-Petersen Dam (07) 4168 4746 Yallakool Park and Kiosk on Bjelke-Petersen Dam (07) 4168 4746

From

T-Shirts

HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND

N O W AVA IL A B L E $

• 6am to 2pm $150pp • 3 boats – holds up to 30+ people • All fishing gear and bait is supplied • No fishing licence req. • Pickup from Yamba Marina or Iluka ferry wharf

22 85

Phone Dave today: www.fishingyamba.com.au 0428 231 962 OPEN 7 DAYS

EASY PARKING

MARINA BOAT & TACKLE, YAMBA MARINA

YAMBA’S LARGEST TACKLE STORE • Chandlery • Boat Sales • Ice & Gas • Bait & Tackle • Trailers Sales & Parts • Charter Bookings Ph: 6646 1994 or 0428 231 962 Email: dave@gaden.com.au

Phone Cases From

29 45

Mugs

From

Now Agents For

1 7 27

HERVEY BAY

Fully Guided Lure & Fly Fishing •

BORN AND BRED LOCAL GUIDE

• Custom Sportsfishing Vessels • Quality Fishing Gear Supplied

CHARTER BOATS Clocks $

GOLD COAST BK’s Gold Coast Fishing Charters 0414 293 034 Coastal Sports Fishing Charters Gold Coast 0412 691 929 Discovery Fishing Charters Gold Coast 0427 026 519 Fish The Deep Charters 0416 224 412 Gold Coast Fishing Charters 0411 605 090 Gone Fishing Charters Gold Coast (07) 5529 7833 Hooker 1 Charters Gold Coast (07) 5528 6469 My Charter Boat Tweed Heads 0407 347 446 Paradise Fishing Charters 0403 531 428 RU4 Reel Tweed Heads 0449 903 366 Sea Probe Fishing Charters 0400 312 330 True Blue Fishing Gold Coast (07) 5510 9622

BRISBANE Big Cat Charters and Tom Cat Charters 0433 430 248 Brisbane Fishing Charters 0427 026 510 Bucket List Fishing Charters 0428 368 316 Frenzy Charters Brisbane (07) 3209 4576 John Gooding Outlaw Charters 0418 738 750 Moreton Island Fishing Charters 0413 128 056

SUNSHINE COAST Fish n Crab Charters Mooloolaba 0412 155 814 Fishing Offshore Noosa 0418 889 956 Hervey Bay Fishing Charters (07) 4125 3958 Incredible Charters 1300 655 818 Keely Rose Deep Sea Fishing Charters 0407 146 151 Noosa Fishing Charters (07) 5665 8170 Odyssey Charters Deep Sea Fishing (07) 5478 1109 Offshore Reef and Game Fishing 0413 485 402 Rainbow Beach Fishing Charters 0439 775 070 Smithy’s Fishing Charters Sunshine Coast 0407 574 868 Sunshine Coast Fishing Charters (07) 5500 0671 Top Catch Charters Sunshine Coast 0429 013 012

42 7 0

Carry Bags From

www.herveybaysportfishing.com.au

Andrew Chorley

0407 627 852

CENTRAL QUEENSLAND (Cont.) Bundaberg Fishing Charters 0429 017 217 Sport Fish 1770 (07) 4974 9686 Coral Coast Game Fishing 0447 347 437 Norval Reef Charters 1800 771 234 Iluka Fishing Charters Gladstone 0414 940 911 Kanimbla Charters Gladstone1800 677 202

TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND Action Charters Mackay 0417 452 346 Cairns Charter Boat 0427 533 081 Cairns Fishing Charters 0427 400 027 Cairns Reef Charter Services 1800 119 044 Eclipse FNQ Weipa Charters 0488 058 668 Fairdinkum Fishing Charters Townsville (07) 4751 5324 Fish’s Fly & Sportsfishing Weipa (07) 4069 9957 Fishing Charters Townsville 0403 386 722 JC’s Fishing Charters 0438 753 382

20 3 3 Throw Pillows

From

25 4 2

and lots more...

MANY DESIGNS TO CHOOSE FROM ON A WIDE VARIETY OF PRODUCTS ALL MADE TO ORDER

ONLINE TACKLE PRODUCTS

NOW YOU CAN TIE THE PERFECT FG KNOT EVERY TIME

NORTHERN NSW Evans Head Deep Sea Fishing Charters 0428 828 835 Reel Time Fishing Charters Yamba 0428 231 962 Wooli Fishing Charter (02) 6649 7100

CENTRAL QUEENSLAND Ultimate Sportfishing Charters 0450 753 726 MV Capricorn Star 0408 755 201 Mikat Cruises Fishing Charters 0427 125 727

NO MORE bulky braid/leader joins

SEE IT! .. BUY IT! .. www.fgwizz.com.au

fishingmonthly.redbubble.com

Advertisers wanting to be involved in this directory can call (07) 3387 0834 or email nkelly@fishingmonthly.com.au MARCH 2019

Stacer 539 Wild Rider with 115hp Yamaha

STANDARD FEATURES

SYDNEY SOUTH

Gary Brown gbrown1@iprimus.com.au

Stacer 539 Wild Rider powered by the VF115LA VMAX SHO 4-Stroke Yamaha outboard is a true all-round family boat where you could take the family out for a fish in the morning and then go skiing as the sun gets higher in the sky. From its roomy rear cockpit, you can go through the walk-through windscreen where you will be able to sit on comfortable factory infill cushions while watching for pods of dolphins or keeping an eye on the skier. If water skiing is not your scene, you can always take the cushions out and drop in the centre section of the carpeted floor and start casting for those pelagics that you may see busting up out the front. Stacer have kept the angler in mind when it comes to fishing up front; they have covered the anchor well so that you can operate the electric motor and not have it get in the way, and

Main: The 539 Wild Rider was up on the plane in less than 30m, giving you plenty more power to open it up to around 40 knots if needed. Above: The concave Revolution hull with its reverse chines pushes the excess water down, deliverying a very comfortable and dry ride when cutting through and over the wash. TEST BOAT PACKAGE For the drive-away price of $57,611 you also get the VF115LA VMAX SHO 4-Stroke Yamaha outboard, the 703 control box 6YC digital Lan screen gauge, Yamaha control cables, polished stainless SDS K-Series 18-k 13” propeller, Garmin echoMAP 75sv Plus sounder/GPS, Stacer T alloy trailer with mechanical brakes, Century NS70M marine battery, 12-month NSW trailer and vessel rego, trailer tiedown straps, a safety kit, a sand anchor with rope and chain, a factory carpeted casting platform infill board, factory infill cushions for the casting deck, factory hydraulic steering upgrade, a factory vinyl boat wrap, a thruster bow mount bracket and a sealed timber floor.

SPECIFICATIONS Beam: .......................................................... 2.36m Bottom sides: ............................................... 4mm Depth: ......................................................... 1.29m Height on trailer: .........................................2.10m Length maximum: ...................................... 5.42m Length on trailer: ....................................... 6.80m Main motor weight: ....................................206kg Max hp: ........................................................135hp Number of people (basic): ................................ 7 Topsides: ...................................................... 3mm Transom material: ........................................ 4mm Transom shaft length: .................................... L/S Weight (boat only): ......................................645kg 98

MARCH 2019

the two side compartments have plenty of storage room. I reckon you could get yourself a low-profile icebox and fit it into the port side front compartment and either store your food and drinks or those fish you are going to catch. With the carpeted cover, fill-in cushions and some ice it would keep your food, drinks and fish cool. The inclusion of the collapsible bimini and envelope will help keep the elements at bay while you are sitting on the swivel

deluxe bow seats. As short as I am, I found that while at the helm of the boat I could easily see over the low-profile sports deck and dash when I folded up the booster seat. At 700rpm, I once again found that the VF115LA VMAX SHO 4-Stroke Yamaha outboard was so quiet that I had to remember to turn the motor off. On the test day it ran at 2400rpm while doing 8 knots, and once it got up on the plane

The Stacer 539 Wild Rider comes with a 5-year warranty, accessory kit, alloy bow roller, anchor storage, bow storage, cleat on front deck, cockpit lights, convertible front casting platform, bimini and envelope, carpeted floor, folding cleat midship, Fusion RA70N sound system plus EL602 speakers 6” 150W, gunwale bump rubber, low profile sports deck and dash, Maxi Bracket 2-piece, painted with stripes, pole mount insert, port and starboard storage consoles, GX750BVHF radio, 18” whip, aft short side rails, transom handrail, rear ladder, recessed ski locker, revolution hull, 2 x rod holders, scupper drainage system, deluxe bow backrest seat & cushions, 2 x maritime seats, folding rear lounge seat and backrest, side decks rolled, 2 x side pockets, nonreturn mechanical steering, Totalscan skimmer med/ high/455/800, 2 x transducer brackets, 95L underfloor fuel tank and a walk-through windscreen. it was only pulling 3000rpm while doing 18 knots. This is definitely a very economical rig to run. Rather than go full speed at 4100 knots/6100rpm, I preferred to cruise at 30 knots while pulling 5000rpm. Prospective buyers can take the Stacer 539 Wild Rider as it comes, or option up with a re-designed transom door and ski pole to allow for a range of activities such as skiing and tube riding. The package tested

on the day came with a VF115LA VMAX SHO 4-Stroke Yamaha outboard, and was priced at $57,611. Alternatively, you may prefer to put on a F115LB 4-Stroke Yamaha outboard for a drive-away price of $45,638. For further information on this or other boats in the Stacer range, drop in to see the staff at Northside Marine, 2294 Sandgate Road, Boondall, 07 3265 8000 or visit www. northsidemarine.com.au.

Even though the bimini on the Wild Rider provides cover while sitting down, it does make it hard to stand if you are tall. Talk to the staff at Marina Bayside about getting a higher one installed.

The Stacer 539 Wild Rider has no pressings, giving the boat a smooth, sleek, modern look and the factory vinyl wrap is very impressive.

Keeping your gear out of the elements is important, and on the port and starboard sides there is more storage. Items like your safety gear, first-aid kit, and stern light could be stored safety in these side pockets.

If you had a small child you could fold up the booster cushion so that they too could see over the low-profile Sports Deck and Dash.

The adjustable deluxe swivel seats allowed you to easily see over the wrap around walk-through aluminium window.

Left: The self-draining anchor well is covered when the floor is in position. There is a small slot in the front to allow for the rope to easily come out when deploying the anchor. Right: Up front under the seats you have plenty of storage where you can fit your safety gear, icebox and much more.

From the stern to the bow there is plenty of room in the 539 Wild Rider. The deluxe cushion swivel seats can be turned to face any direction.

When Dom powered the Stacer 539 Wild Rider up onto the plane, the VF115LA VMAX SHO Yamaha did it with ease. Marina Bayside also provide the option of putting on a F115LB 4-stroke Yamaha outboard instead.

While seated at the helm the GARMIN echoMAP 75sv Plus sounder/ GPS and the 703-control box 6YC digital Lan screen gauge were very easy to see and use. There is also a small storage area near the throttle for those items that you need to keep out of the weather.

If you have more guests onboard you can always fold up the padded cushioned seat at the rear. When not in use itâ€™s very easy to fold it back up. MARCH 2019