Issuu

FEBRUARY FISHY FUN• KINGFISH CHAOS

NEW FIND THE

LOGO COMPETITION

Techniques

SEE INSIDE!

Tackling kingfish and getting ready for action • Lures and techniques guide for trout • Topwater EPs at Devils Bend

Boating & kayaking

•

Urban exploration in the kayak • Enjoying your summer boating • Sea Jay Velocity Sports 550 • Stessl 580 Seahawk with Yamaha F130hp •

Features DIY Lure making: Pop‘n’Doc • Mixing and matching bladed and skirted lures •

FREE GUIDEBOOK INSIDE

February, 2018 Fishing Monthly G R O U P

Registered by Australian Post Publication No: 100002088

$6.95 (GST inc.)

issuu.com/fishingmonthly

fishingmonthly

Fishing Monthly Magazines

www fishingmonthly FishingMonthly

NEW sunrise silver mirr or S

C O S TA

580

ÂŽ

TECHNOLOGY

This advancement of our color-enhancing 580 lens technology allows you to see more with less light. The yellow-based polarized lenses allow high light transmission while still providing maximum protection and deliver sharper contrast for sunrise, sunset, and a sun that wants to hide behind the clouds all day. Find your pair by using the dealer locator at costadelmar.com.

daiwafishing.com.au

NEW SUFIX ADVANCE

THE FUTURE OF MONOFILAMENT MONOFILAMENT WITH SUPERLINE

longer

ck er str

knot s t

ren

nd slick

nge

r connection

SISTANCE

www.sufixadvance.com

gth for stro

• Extre

qui

N ASIO RE

ABR • e m

<STRETCH> • Fo

ca sts

LOWEST

s•

for

nd slick • Soft a

• Soft a

MATERIAL

February 2018, Vol. 13 No. 4

Contents WEST COAST West Coast

Portland 19 Warrnambool 19 Apollo Bay

Cobden 20

CENTRAL Geelong 22 Port Phillip West

Port Phillip North East

Port Phillip East

Mornington Peninsula

Western Port North

Western Port South

Phillip Island

EAST COAST Lakes Entrance

Marlo 36 Gippsland Lakes

McLoughlins Beach

Bemm River

NSW SOUTH COAST Eden 42 Mallacoota 42 Bermagui 43 Merimbula 44 Narooma 45

VICTORIAN FRESHWATER Horsham 88 Robinvale 89 Yarrawonga 89

From the Editor’s Desk... We love the February magazine for plenty of reasons, but a major one is that we get to include one of the two Tournament Angler Guides from ABT in the middle of this issue – 32 pages of tips, tackle and techniques that have been derived from the BREAM, BASS and BARRA Tour in 2017. Now we know that most of the fishing population aren’t tournament anglers and don’t ever want to be a tournament angler, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that there are techniques and tackle developed on tour that will help you enjoy your fishing even more. So if you keep an open mind, there’s a lot to be gained from those pages. An example is Stefan Sawynok’s piece merging sports science and fishing. Although targeted at tournament anglers who want

to improve their performance, who doesn’t want to catch more fish? DIGITAL MAGAZINES OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED Thank you to all of our new digital subscribers that have signed up through the platform on www.issuu.com. We are confident enough now to run the ad in the magazine to promote it (rather than just a couple of paragraphs in the Editor’s Desk). The three-magazinesfor-one-price has been really popular. You get your home state magazine plus the two others and they are launched

about an hour after we sent the title to the printers. That’s nearly two weeks earlier than they arrive in your mailbox. There has been little confusion about the digital subs; some readers thought that you got it for free with your paid, printed subscription. That’s not the case – for your $65 per year, you get either a print issue (from your state) OR a digital subscription (for three states). Got it? Good. If you have any teething problems, give us a buzz in the office and we can sort you out.

REDBUBBLE One of our 2018 resolutions was to solve the FM merchandise issue – y’all love it but we infrequently stock it. Problem fixed. We’ve partnered with Redbubble to offer a massive variety of clothing and other merchandise to satisfy your urge, or to fill the gift bag. The way Redbubble works is that you pick your item, pick your logo and they custommake and ship it to you. THE BEST TIME OF THE YEAR And apart from all of that, we hope you enjoy the tail end of summer. It offers warm water and what many would argue is the best time of the year to catch fish and spend time on the water. There’s our popular Find-the competition inside and mountains of articles that relate to fishing in YOUR state. Get into it!

Jindabyne 90 Wangaratta 91 Shepparton 92 Ballarat 93 Bonnie Doon

Eildon 94 Eildon Rivers

Bendigo 96

TASMANIA WRAP

BOATING AND KAYAK

113

REGULAR FEATURES Back to Basics

Chappy’s Hotspot

Dam Levels

Fun Page Inland Fisheries Service

112 81

Spearfishing 80 Tasmanian Lake Levels

Tech Tricks

100

Tournament News

108

Track My Fish

106

Trade and Services Guide

110

Victorian Tide Times

122

What’s new fishing

102

What’s new boating

115

SPECIAL FEATURES Tackling kings and getting ready for action

Field Editor: Kelly Hunt Publishers: Steve Morgan Matthew Drinkall Advertising: Ph: (07) 3387 0800 Fax: (07) 3387 0801 Copy and materials should be sent direct to: ads@fishingmonthly.com.au

Distribution: Gordon & Gotch Pty Ltd Subscriptions: Kym Rowbotham

A Richard Abela image.

TO SUBSCRIBE SEE PAGE 79 FIND THE GAMAKATSU LOGO COMPETITION PAGE 17 Victorian and Tasmanian Fishing Monthly magazine goes on sale the last week of each preceding month (latest sale date 31st of the month).

Office Manager: Marie Dykstra Annual Subscriptions: $65 for twelve issues (GST inc.) Make cheques payable to Queensland Fishing Monthly PO Box 3172 LOGANHOLME QLD 4129 SUBSCRIPTION HOTLINE FREECALL 1800 228 244

Published by:

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

FISH

’

Advertising Enquiries: Peter Jung ads@fishingmonthly.com.au

Website: www.fishingmonthly.com.au

Richard Abela displays a lovely East Gippsland kingfish.

FEBRUARY 2018

Sub-Editors: Bob Thornton Nicole Penfold Cordelia Adams

Production: Karen Millward Jenna Milburn Keith Hawley

OUR COVER

Editorial Manager: Jacqui Thomas

Printing: APN – Print

DIY lure making: Pop‘n’Doc

Managing Editor: Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

Advertising Sales: Peter Jung pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au Phone: (07) 3387 0800

Topwater EPs at Devils Bend

Phone: (07) 3387 0800 Fax: (07) 3387 0801

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

Business Office: Unit 1, 11 Knobel Court, Shailer Park, Qld, 4128

SINCE 2004

118

AUST

Trout offerings – lures and techniques

VICTORIA FISHING MONTHLY

116

ION

TOURNAMENT ANGLER GUIDE

Central Gippsland

Crater Lakes

Melbourne Metro

PRO

West/South Gippsland

ING TRADE

MEMBER

NEW

Fishing Diary Angler: Diego Gadea Location: Western Port Bay Date: 11/12/2017 Conditions: S 8kt, incoming tide Black Magic Tackle: NEW Sandy Snatcher rigs Note: The whiting were playing with our baits all day so having this new rig with quality long shank hooks allowed us to strike them...and we were on!

BLACK MAGIC WHITING RIGS - A MUST TRY!

Sandy Snatcher® High-quality rigging:

• • • • • • Utilising Black Magic’s high-quality components, these rigs give you the edge when targeting whiting or small reef fish. If that bigger than expected fish hooks up, you want tackle that can go the distance. Three different styles: Whiting Snatcher®, Whiting Whacker and now the Sandy Snatcher®... check them out at your local retailer and give them a go!

Follow @blackmagictackle on Facebook and Instagram to see the latest catches and enter in our competitions.

strong long shank hooks 15lb fluorocarbon long life red lumo beads trace protective red tubing 1/2 oz sinker included available in sizes 4, 6 and 8

NEW RIG

ADDED TO OUR WHITING RIG RANGE

the best by test... www.blackmagictackle.com7 FEBRUARY 2018

Yellowtail Kingfish

Tackling kings and getting ready for action WESTERN PORT STH

Jarrod Day jarrodday@iprimus.com.au

It was back in 2009 when the first reports of kingfish being caught in Port Phillip Bay’s Rip began to surface. This was after a solid 20 year drought – they had

and rec anglers? The answer is still unclear, however today the kingfish fishery in the Rip is as healthy as ever and has been growing stronger with passing each season. Catches of kingfish over 15kg may raise a few eyebrows, but it’s the excitement of just hooking one that sees

the water back in the day. Understanding how the Rip’s currents operate is the first hurdle before getting one onto your hook. Without prior knowledge, things can go from bad to worse in the blink of an eye, so it always pays to fish with someone experienced before you do something you might regret.

Matt Cini prides himself on targeting kingfish in the Rip. for kings in the Rip requires extremely tough tackle. Being one of the more brutal species of fish to battle, kingfish are notorious for finding every weakness in your tackle, leaving you with one lure less in your tackle kit and sometimes without your rod and reel. Couple their fighting

Yellowtail scad make some of the best live baits available. all but disappeared. Why they left is anyone’s guess. Was it that the current dispersion or the bait they were chasing diminished or was it over fishing by the commercial sector

more dead lift power you can have, the easier it will be to get them up. My setup is a 14000 Shimano Twin Power mounted to a Wilson Venom 350. This specific rod is a little more expensive than most but is very comfortable to jig and live bait with and provides enough lifting power to not wear the angler

hundreds of anglers all trying their luck. The Rip is no easy place to fish; in fact it is Victoria’s most treacherous waterway. Hundreds of boats went down here due to the uncertainty of

Live baits don’t last long once they’re sent down to the depths. Ensure your tackle is up to the task.

Gathering as many live bait as possible is the key to a successful session.

GETTING READY FOR BATTLE Due to the fast current, deep water and reef, rigging

CUT

Often, a small break in the shoreline is the best place to sit and let the fish come right to the hook. That’s why these classically-styled Costa Cut sunglasses are the perfect companion.

COPPER:

OPTIMAL USE: Cuts glare for eye comfort in a variety of situations, from sight fishing to driving. • 12% light transmission

FEBRUARY 2018

• Excellent for sight fishing • Everday activities • Most versatile • Cloudy days

ability with the current and the reef and you’re certainly in for one heck of a fight, which is why you need to be geared and ready from the get-go. In an ideal world, it would be good if you could suit up with a few Shimano Stella 18000 reels but at just over the $1,000 mark it can become an expensive setup. Dropping down in a few bearings and a little drag pressure, reels like Shimano’s Saragosa 18000 will certainly bring them to the top. Load it with 60-80lb braid to ensure you can turn their head in the split second they take the bait or jig. Also, choose a multicoloured braid so you can put the jig or live bait right on their nose once you find them on the sounder. Most multi-coloured braids are coloured every 10m so you can count down the colours to know the depth where the fish are holding. Rods also need to be able to pack a punch and when fighting a fish boat-side, the

out during the fight. Taking a step down, Shimano’s T-Curve 200 or Revolution Offshore 200 will handle them with no problems and won’t break the budget when you’re setting up. Overhead reels are also just as effective, but you’d want to get something of quality with a moderate drag curve, such as a Trinadad 16 or 20, or if you just want to live bait and not use your outfit for jigging, a Shimano TLD 15 or 25 may be a more affordable option. BAITING THE HOOK With the depth of the Rip and the strength of the current there are two main techniques used to catch kings. While I’ll get into the jigging side of it next, live baiting is the most effective, however you want to be doing both at the same time to create the commotion on the water that the fish have to come to investigate. Live baiting may

Using assist hooks that are too long can cause foul ups and if a king attacks the jig, you’ll miss a solid hook set.

Yellowtail Kingfish be simple in its method but gathering the bait is the most difficult part, despite the bay having a very healthy population of calamari, yellowtail scad and slimy mackerel. Those targeting kings in the Rip tend to launch from Sorrento, Rye, Rosebud, Queenscliff, Swan Bay and even Mount Martha, although it is quite a run down from here. These ramps provide anglers with plenty of opportunities to find live bait along the way. Of course you can stop in over the weed beds anywhere, flick out a jig and snag a few but unless your bait tank is set up right, they don’t tend to stay alive too long. Catching yakkas and slimies also takes a little more work, so you need to set aside a good hour or so before heading to the Rip to gather enough livies. How many is enough do you ask? Well, how long is a ball of

you’re down at the Rip, taking care with your livies is paramount. Rigging them takes care and while there are good and bad techniques, I like to get the most out of them the quickest

way possible. Bridle rigging through the nose can take time and precision piercing while rigging through the shoulders can cause the fish to die To page 10

Using a jigging assist hook rigged onto the live bait hook is very effective in the hook-up process and maximises the life of the livie. string? This question is a hard one to answer purely because of all the things that can happen to them when they are down. Barracouta, pike, snook and even bluethroat wrasse are happy to devour your livie; then again you could get snagged up on the kelp, which can bust off your rig

and dislodge the hook from your live bait. I guess a good rule of thumb is to take a good 30-40 livies with you, but you must have a good live bait tank or two to keep them alive for your session. Good locations to catch bait along the Mornington Peninsula are around any of the jetties and or boat

You don’t need to get too technical with the live bait rig. Just make sure your knots are strong.

moorings. All it takes is a good berley trail to get them going and a jig sent down the trail. Alternative locations include near the South Channel marker, Mount Martha Mussel Farm and around the spoil ground out from Rosebud. THE RIG Live bait rigs are the least complicated rigs to make. Standard live bait rigs consist of around a metre length of 80lb trace. Whether you use fluorocarbon, soft or hard nylon is up to you. At one end have a good size #1 rolling or crane swivel to prevent line twist and at the other end a size 7/0 live bait hook. While the excitement might set in quick when

Chris Cassar knows all too well the importance of using quality tackle and ensuring the rigging is 100%.

FEBRUARY 2018

Trout Lure Feature

Trout offerings – lures and techniques for trout today. Blue Fox Vibrax lures are a similar style, but come in a vast range of colours and have a bell-shaped body that emits added vibration and sound. The other lure that has stood the test of time is the Rooster Tail. A little bit of feather added to the treble and a good colour range made it a must-have. There is a plethora of spinners now available and unsurprisingly all the above spinners are still readily available. Some others to look out for are the Juro Alpine and Sonic Spinners or the Gillies Feathertail. The downside to this style of lure is casting distance and although they still caught plenty of fish around the margins of the Snowy Mountain lakes, as an angler you always wonder if you would catch more fish if you could cast that little bit further.

FMG

Peter Jung pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au

Inspired by the ramblings of Rupe (Rupe is Fishing) on the styles of lures he uses to target Murray cod and Australian bass, I felt the urge to jump on the computer and do the same thing on one of Australia’s favourite introduced species – trout. The 4 May 1864 saw the first successful hatching of brown trout eggs in Australia. This was the result of a huge endeavour to transport live ova from England. This successful hatching in the Plenty River in Tasmania became the primary stock of brown trout for Australia and New Zealand. It was 30 years later that rainbow trout were also introduced to

JUNGY ’S TACKLE BOX SPINNERS The author’s tackle box is a blend of the old and the new. They range from 25 year old Rapalas to the latest Zerek Tango Shads and Bullet Lures. The surface lures are a recent addition.

Andy Queck showing off a nice brown trout caught on one of the latest colours in the Rapala CD range. Australian waters from North America via New Zealand. Although an introduced species, there has been less heated debate on how much their introduction has affected the ecosystems of the waterways they inhabit. There is no doubt they have done so, but certainly not in the same manner as European carp and English perch have. In this humble angler’s opinion they have become an integral component of the

The author was surprised that Andy’s soft plastic of choice was a chartreuse Berkley Gulp Minnow, but you can’t argue with the results. 12

FEBRUARY 2018

recreational fishing scene in Australia, and as long as a balance can be found where our native species and trout can coexist the industry can preserve the economic value that has been created as well as celebrating what anglers have enjoyed since their introduction in 1864. As trout require cool water, their key strongholds are in the New England region of NSW, down through the high country of NSW and Victoria, around through into South Australia and southern Western Australia. Tasmania is recognised by many as the prime location to catch wild fish and has anglers from around the world visit its shores. Significant stocking efforts ensure many lakes in NSW and Victoria are fantastic fisheries and provide a huge economic benefit through the anglers that visit. Prime examples are Toolondo in Victoria and the Snowy Mountain lakes, like Eucumbene and Jindabyne. FISHING METHODOLOGY Lure styles and trends in Australia are often dictated by overseas markets. Lures that are designed for other species tend to be adapted to targeting our Australian fish. In the case of trout, this is very different. European and American markets also have dedicated trout fisheries and lures to suit. Major brands like Rapala and Rublex have been part of a trout angler’s arsenal for as long as I can remember and, while they can also be adapted to other species, they are lures designed to target and catch trout. There are some very switched-on Australian lure-makers (must be a freshwater thing) that have been around forever and produce highly effective lures for the trout market. Tasmanian Devils are the first to pop into my head from Wigstons Lures in Tasmania. Has any lure caught more trout than a Tassie Devil since the late 70s? There are many more as you read on. Many of my formative years casting lures for trout were spent walking the banks of the Murrumbidgee River between Canberra and Cooma as well as many of the smaller creeks that feed into it. It was a huge learning curve and very rewarding. There were no mobile phones back then, so not many images exist, but the memories are etched into my brain and my love for chasing trout will never be lost. I have to say it is a shame that these areas now hold little or no trout any more. Drought knocked out fish stocks and huge numbers of carp have taken over. NSW Fisheries’ stocking focus seems to be on the lakes and not boosting fisheries that inspired a generation or two of anglers. It

• Rublex Celta • Blue Fox Vibrax • Rooster Tail • Sonar Spinner

is great to see that the native species are still going strong, but the trout that swam with them are now few and far between.

SPINNERS My first recollection of fishing for trout with lures was with a Rublex Celta in the no. 1 and 2 sizes (5g and 7g) in the gold blade with red or green markings. These simple lures are basically a blade that rotates around a body with a treble at the rear. They, like all of this type of lure, were great for a young angler to use. They had enough weight to cast with little difficulty and the retrieve was simple – wind fast enough that the blade spins. The advantage of a spinner is that in a river fishing scenario it can be fished upstream, downstream, across current, shallow or deep; it doesn’t matter. As long as you get the blade turning it will catch a fish. The flash of the blades seemed to mesmerize the fish and certainly hooked this angler on lure fishing. It didn’t take long for other similar lures to find their way into my tackle box and are still, like the Celtas, catching fish

SPOONS AND SLUGS To have the ability to cast further added a new dynamic to lures for trout and spawned from this was a lure called a Baltic minnow. Made in Australia it was a lure with plenty of weight and minimal action. People fishing the mountain lakes couldn’t get enough of them. They could now cast three times as far as they ever had, get to the bottom quickly and wind in quickly to maximise any action in the lure. The strikes when they came were vicious, which made using them lots of fun. However they were limited to lake use and other options that had the castability, but also had potential in the streams as well. Enter spoons. They come in all shapes, sizes and weights, with the added dynamic of a wobbling/fluttering action. Lake anglers flocked towards lures like the Pegron Minnow and the Wonder Wobbler while river anglers were drawn towards lures like the Wonder spoon or IMP Spoon as I know it. The action of the lures also made them favourites with anglers who trolled for trout, as it removed the need to have attracting devices in front of their lures. There are plenty of options when it comes to what is available through your local tackle store. One that has come to my attention is the Kroc Lure from Australian

Since the early 70s there probably hasn’t been a lure brand that has caught more trout than a Wigstons Tasmanian Devil. Here it is rigged with a Mustad Inline single hook in clown colour.

Trout Lure Feature producer Wonder Lures. There wouldn’t be too many Victorian trout anglers that don’t have one of these in their tackle box. JUNGY’S TACKLE BOX SPOONS • Pegron Minnow • Wonder Kroc Lure

WINGED LURES One of the biggest contributions Australian lure-makers have made to trout fishing has been winged lures. They are a great combination of a slug and a spoon and the three brands I am aware of would have accounted for millions of fish captures. Those three brands are Tillins Cobra, Wigstons Tasmanian Devil and the Johnson Kobra. All are variations on a theme and all are fish-catching machines in their own right. They have great castability, a wicked sideto-side action and are very affordable for every angler. Tassie Devils are most probably the most recognizable these days with significant wall space designated to them in most tackle stores. Their colour range is massive and the addition of coloured wings in recent years has been very popular. To improve the hook-up rate, remove the wire insert and treble and put your leader

straight through to a treble of your choice. Put a coloured bead between the lure body and the treble/inline single hook to avoid knot damage. If you are trolling for trout, these are a must-have lure. JUNGY’S TACKLE BOX WINGED LURES • Wigstons Tasmanian Devil in colours, clown, tinkerbell, yellow wings, Willy’s special, fire tiger

DIVING MINNOWS Diving minnows changed the way I fished for trout. My initial foray into diving minnows was using Rebel Crawfish

and Crickhopper lures in my local streams. It was my version of matching the hatch. I had enough success to head to my local tackle store (Anglers Art in Phillip ACT) in search of more options. What caught my eye were the Rapala CD3 and CD5 ranges as well as the floating versions. There were lifelike rainbow and brown trout colours as well as a perch colour that tickled my fancy, but the odd one out was the fire tiger colour. ‘No way a trout would eat that’ was my initial thought, but I had to have one anyway. Luckily I did, because it smashed them. These became my go-to lure – the floating version for the streams and the sinking version in the lakes. This was the beginning of the influx of a myriad of lures to fill a similar purpose. Baby Merlin Lures and McGrath Attack minnows were a couple of the Aussie options and now there are so many lures that can be adapted to trout techniques that you are spoilt for choice. While many

You don’t need to use big lures to catch big fish. This browny smashed a 3cm Bullet Minnow.

Rapala continues to be innovative with their lures and their new X-Rap Countdown series lures definitely have a place in every trout angler’s tackle box. tend to lean towards Japanese-made lures, which is not hard to understand as their quality is outstanding, but I must say I still lean towards the latest Rapala offerings (X-Rap CountDown and BX Minnows) if I am going to spend that sort or money. The other standouts new offerings are the Bullet Minnow and Five-O Minnow from Bullet Lures and the Tango Shad from Zerek, if you want something that dives a little deeper. Both brands have sinking and floating versions, which is important depending on the waterway you are fishing. One tip that I will give you is it is vital to have natural colours in your collection To page 14

FEBRUARY 2018

Boating News

Formosa Marine commemorates 20 years Formosa Marine are proud to acknowledge that 2018 marks 20 years of aluminium boat building for the Australian boating public. From humble beginnings, Formosa Marine now sees itself as one of the mainstay brands of the Australian

recreational boating market with an Australia-wide distribution network. The key to the longevity, growth and reputation of Formosa Marine has been the constant onward development of the company’s product range and designs to meet customers’ demands for

The Railblaza StowPod is UV-resistant, has a drink holder partition and holds all PRINT.pdf 1 31/08/2017 3:03:53 PM yourAttomic personal items at your fingertips.

high quality build and performance in a hull that can be tailored to their individual needs. A Formosa Marine built hull is marketed under the Tomahawk and Sea-Rod brands of plate boats offering a full range of models from open to cabin hardtops, sizes from 4.55m Classics to the latest 7.4m heavy-duty Offshores with true self-draining decks. Select from one of the largest range of optional extras, such as the latest ‘BowActive’ Ladder, or custom design to enhance your boating form. NEW BOAT GRAPHICS FOR 2018 To commemorate the 20th anniversary, Formosa Marine are re-launching their boat graphics for both the Tomahawk and Sea-Rod range. The business acknowledges that the Formosa Marlin graphic has become symbolic with their branding, readily recognizable on the water and much sought-after. The new graphics will feature the iconic Formosa Marlin and a 20th Anniversary sticker, plus an increase in size of the

From humble beginnings, Formosa Marine now sees itself as one of the mainstay brands of the Australian recreational boating market with an Australia-wide distribution network. branding to accommodate the larger boat models now on offer. The Barra graphic is still available on request. FREE GIFT TO CELEBRATE… As well as a boat graphic refresh, Formosa Marine are giving away a free gift to celebrate their 20 years.

If you order the famous Formosa Marine designed and built bait board and bait tank with your Formosa boat, you will receive a free Railblaza StowPod with a removable QuickPort fastener. The Railblaza StowPod is UV-resistant, has a drink holder partition and holds all your personal items at

your fingertips. Check out their website at www.railblaza.com for more information and the vast range of attachments that can be added to the QuickPort. Contact your local Formosa Marine dealer for a price list. Discover more online at www.formosamarineboats. com.au. – Formosa Marine

Plazos

Hardz

CMY

Distribibu tors:

Seekerz

ysoffshore .com.au

www.frogle

Metalz

for Expl osive resu lts

Semi Hardz

FEBRUARY 2018

abt

Tournament

FREE GUIDEBOOK

Guide

Australian Bass Tournaments

ABT.ORG.AU

DIY Lure Making

DIY lure making: Pop‘n’Doc BRISBANE

Greg Vinall support@makewoodenlures.com

I thought for our final project of this beginner’s lure making series we might do something a little different. So this month we’ll make a little surface popper to take advantage of the upcoming autumn surface bite. The Pop‘n’Doc is a very simple lure to make and a lot of fun if you like splashy strikes on light lines. Ideal for throwing at bream, whiting, trevally, saratoga, sooties, bass and other small to medium surface feeders, you’ll quickly become addicted to flicking this little guy around our inland and estuarine waters! Surface poppers vary tremendously in the amount of commotion they create, which is a function of the size, depth and angle of the concave mouth at the front of the lure. To make a splashy lure, the concave surface needs to be large, so noisy poppers are often oversized at the front to maximise the space for this feature. That’s great if you’re targeting aggressive or inquisitive species in windy conditions, but often you’ll want a more subtle approach that doesn’t send timid

species scurrying off for cover. The Pop‘n’Doc has a small mouth and creates a gentle ‘pop’ that throws a little splash of water forward on each pulse. It sits close to horizontal at rest, making it perfect for still, quiet water fishing. FISHING WITH THE POP‘N’DOC The Pop‘n’Doc is very much a light tackle lure. I generally prefer 2-3kg braid and a matching mono leader. Braid and mono is generally a good line/leader combination for surface fishing, because both the line and leader float. Fluorocarbon may be great for its low visibility and high abrasion resistance, but it sinks, which can spoil the action of a small surface lure. Make sure you attach your popper to the leader with a good loop knot like Lefty’s Loop. All hardbody lures perform best if they have freedom to move at the end of the line. I like a light, reasonably fast taper rod for finesse popping. Unlike stickbaits and gliders, I don’t want a smooth, flowing action when I’m fishing poppers. It’s beneficial for the lure to move in short, sharp jerks that maximise the effectiveness of the popper mouth in creating audible

splashes and pops. Spin gear is usually my preference, and make sure the spool is full for maximum casting distance. Throwing small, lightweight lures on baitcast gear can be frustrating, so I’d usually avoid it. Like stickbaits and gliders, small poppers tend to perform best if you give them just a little slack line between twitches. Often the strike will come when the lure is stationary, during a pause between twitches, so don’t be afraid to let the lure sit momentarily. Pop‘n’Doc is a great option over shallow weedbeds for bass and estuary perch, through shallow, snag dotted flats for saratoga, or around shoals and oyster leases for bream. The key is not to rush it. After you make a cast, let the lure sit stationary for a few moments before you start to retrieve. This allows the fish to come and investigate the source of the splash and often results in an aggressive strike the instant you start moving the lure. You can play around with the cadence until you find what’s working on the day. MAKING THE POP‘N’DOC We’ll use the same materials as we have for all of our projects: balsa

for the lure body, a little stainless steel wire, some size 000 ball sinkers, and a good epoxy adhesive like 24hr Araldite. You also need some paint and clear coat to tart the lure up, of course. I used a round-nosed burr to make the concave mouth for this lure. You’ll find these with the drill bits in larger hardware stores. Alternatively, a countersink bit or a rotary tool like a Dremel can do a pretty good job too. Painting lures is nearly always for the angler more than the fish, and that’s especially true for surface lures like poppers, where the fish are approaching

Tools Utility knife, battery drill and bits, hacksaw, pliers. Materials • 12.5mm x 75mm balsa plank • 1-1.2mm stainless steel wire • 120 and 240 grit sand paper • 240 grit wet sanding paper • Epoxy adhesive (with syringes and mixing sticks) • Ball sinkers (size 000) • Methylated Spirit • Rotary burr, countersink bit or Dremel tool from below and mostly see just a silhouette. Still, painting is fun! I’ve airbrushed the poppers I made for this article in a frog pattern, which seems appropriate, since frogs are a common food item for surface-feeding fish. WANT MORE LURE MAKING LESSONS? I have an online

Template: 1 Square = 1cm

crankbait-making course that will take you through all of the basics. In it I show you how to make a couple of great crankbait projects, give a bunch of painting tips and provide some downloadable templates. It’s 100% free and you can sign up for it at thecrankbaitmasterclass. com.

100% Scale

Visit www.MakeWoodenLures.com/Fishing-Monthly/ to download all the templates in this series.

Glue some sandpaper to a flat block and with your lure blank on a flat surface, sand the edges square. Use a curved sanding block to clean up the concave edge on the underside of the lure. Gently remove timber until you’ve shaped down to the profile you marked in Step 1.

Cut out the template and trace the side profile onto a piece of 12mm thick balsa wood. Use a utility knife to cut away most of the waste, but stop just short of the lines you marked. 3

Mark a centre line and then the locations of the tow point and hook hangers. Drill a 2mm hole for each of these items, plus a 5mm hole where the belly weight will be. 98

TOOLS AND MATERIALS

FEBRUARY 2018

Mark the top profile on the blank using the template provided, then cut away the waste with your utility knife. Finish by squaring the blank again using your sanding block. One of the advantages of hand carved poppers (as opposed lathe turned ones) is that you can create more complex body shapes. Pop‘n’Doc has a slightly concave belly area, which allows it to sit slightly tail-down at rest. I mark carving lines fairly close to the edge of the blank on all four sides and remove the small amount of waste with the knife. Then I sand the lure until the body is roughly circular in cross section.

DIY Lure Making 6

Make some stainless steel twist eyes and glue them into the tail and belly hook hanger holes with 24hr, super strength epoxy. While you’re at it, glue the belly weight in place, making sure it sits neatly below the surface of the wood. Then put a little more epoxy on top to fill the hole. Set your lures aside to cure, then trim away the excess epoxy using a knife. Finish by sanding the epoxy flush with the wood. Don’t glue the tow point in just yet, as we’ll need to smooth the popper mouth after hardening the wood.

Using the rotary burr in my battery drill I make the concave mouth of the popper. I find that a high drill speed and light pressure makes for a clean and controlled cut. Start with the burr at an angle to the wood and then straighten it up as the mouth starts to deepen.

FINISHED LURE

Harden the balsa using some thinned epoxy. You can get full instructions for this on my website at https://makewoodenlures.com/lure-bodies-hardeningsealing/. Then set your lures aside for a further 24 hours (minimum) before sanding off the gloss with 240 grit wet sanding paper. Use your rotary burr with light pressure to de-gloss the epoxy inside the mouth of the lure. Glue your tow point into the lure with epoxy, wiping away any excess glue with a rag soaked in metho. Now you’re ready to paint and clear coat your lure!

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

THE WORLD’S FINEST HOOKS

SIZES FROM

#2/0-8/0

SIZES FROM

BIG BAIT CIRCLE

Heavier gauge circle hook for big fish! Perfect for a paternoster rig, or a live bait rig

#1/0-10/0

SIZES FROM

#4/0-10/0

INLINE OCTOPUS SE 4X

BIG BAIT

Perfect for big baits for big fish

For use with big baits, this hook is built on ultra strong 4x Steel

Distributed by

www.frogleysoffshore.com.au @GamakatsuAus

@frogleysoffshore FEBRUARY 2018

WHAT’S NEW FISHING SAMAKI VIBELICIOUS 1 UV SQUID

DTD WHITE KILLER OITA

Samaki Vibelicious brings a new colour to the lure market: UV Squid. This new pattern is all about the detail. It has long tentacles extending over the tail, and a soft spot and stripe details add the pearl underbody plus a very lifelike green eye. This colour has proven itself time and time again in field testing around Australia, accounting for barra, mulloway, bream and flathead to name a few. The fish-attracting features of the Vibelicious Fork Tail and Thumper Tail are further enhanced by the ultra-violet properties of the new UV Squid colour. The Vibelicious Fork Tail and Thumper Tail come in three sizes: 70mm, 100mm and 125mm. The 100mm and 125mm models have now been upgraded with new BKK Raptor Z Hooks and new Decoy EX Strong split rings. New quality hardware like this assists longevity and promotes better hookups, as the hook penetration is on point. As always our Vibelicious contains premium Japanese Stainless wire and is made of the toughest 10X super stretch material. www.samaki.com.au

The White Killer Oita is the latest innovative European squid jig to hit the Australian market. Manufactured by leading Croatian company DTD, this baby is taking the world by storm. Unlike any other product in the market, the defining difference is the White Killer cannot help but be noticed by any lurking predators. Made with all the durability and quality you’d expect from DTD, it is bright, attractive, and features three unique ‘glow’ points. The body of the jig omits a green glow in night conditions, and the coloured ‘spine’ is UV enhanced and ensures high visibility during daytime conditions. And as if that wasn’t enough, the side of the lure features a blue glow point to once again enhance visibility. These glow qualities, coupled with DTD’s use of only the highest grade materials available, ensure great balance and results in superior catching ability. The White Killer Oita is available now in three sizes (2.5, 3.0, and 3.5). Price: SRP $17.95 www.dogtoothdistribution.com.au

WILSON LARGE LURE WRAP

SAMURAI OSPREY BOAT RODS

The arrival of the Wilson Large Lure Wrap has allowed lovers of big lures to keep themselves, their lures and their rods safe from the rigours of travel on the water and during transport. The damage that can be caused to a rod blank, the bindings and the guides can be quite significant if you travel any distance in a boat with lures rigged (as almost all of us do). The Wilson Large Lure Wrap stops this damage by protecting the rod blank from a wildly swinging and swaying lure. Measuring 26cm x 28cm, the Large Lure Wrap securely encloses both the lure and the rod, stopping the lure from banging around while you are underway. Additionally, the wrap reduces the risk of anglers catching themselves on the hooks, and allows for better storage of rigged rods, whether in rod lockers or in rod stands. The Large Lure Wrap comes in a single pack and measures 26cm x 28cm. It is simple, effective and one of those products that you can’t believe you didn’t think of yourself. www.wilsonfishing.com

OBSESSION GUMMY 3 BAITS Large spinnerbaits to target big Murray cod are a must-have for serious native fish anglers. Australian-made Obsession Spinnerbaits have plenty of options in their Gummy Bait range to meet the needs of these anglers. Available in 3/4oz, 1oz and 1 1/8oz and four blade configurations (single, double, quad and six blades on request), Gummy Baits are designed to tickle the fancy of Australia’s largest freshwater fish. There is a huge range of head colours, which are matched with Obsession’s hot tip and turbo-flared skirts and finished off with a curl-tail grub and stinger hook to match the head. If you love casting or trolling large spinnerbaits, Obsession Gummy baits are for you. To find out more about Obsession Spinnerbaits you can contact Ray on 0428 462 397, or to find your nearest stockist go to the Obsession Spinnerbaits website. www.obsessionspinnerbaits.com 102

FEBRUARY 2018

Samurai has released a new series of all-rounder boat rods with user-friendly actions and a wide weight range, perfect for any offshore boat style fishing. These very versatile rods can be used for bait fishing, lures, trolling, casting or for the keen jigger. Each rod is fitted with the finest rod components by Fuji — anti-tangle K Frame guides with alconite rings and Fuji reel seats. The grips are custom shaped and the rods are pimped out with aluminium decorative parts for some essential bling. A premium rubber gimbal cap is dual purpose: fit it into your rod holder or hold it freestyle. There’s no need for those annoying caps anymore that everyone loses! There are six models, all 6’0”: OS-25 (1525lb, spin), OS-40 (20-40lb, spin), S-60 (3060lb, spin), OS-H25 (15-25lb, overhead), OSOH40 (20-40lb overhead), OS-OH60 (30-60lb overhead). www.frogleysoffshore.com.au

EGI OH Q LIVE COLOURS

PRODUCT GUIDE

The Yamashita Egi Oh Q Live series has eight new high-contrast colours added to its range. These incorporate UV and glow paint to create a unique contrast to the cloth and undertape. Like all Live jigs, they are fitted with the ‘warm jacket’ cloth which converts light into heat. This capacity to hold a level of heat similar to natural fish makes the Lives more successful in attracting squid interest, helping you to catch squid even when conditions are tough. These jigs also have a patented thin nose design, which minimises water resistance when hopped to give the jig more action for less effort. Other features include large, flat eyes with a glow edge, super fine spikes, Hyper Direct SUS eyelet to maintain jig strength and protect against breakage or leaks, a knife-edged sinker to reduce resistance in the water, and a strike body to make it easy to retrieve the jig. It also has a much longer casting distance than many other jigs, and comes in 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, and 3.5 sizes. www.ejtodd.com.au

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

SCAN THE QR CODE!

PRODUCT GUIDE

WHAT’S NEW FISHING STORM GOMOKU SURF RODS

7 8

No one knows what crustacean or insect ZMan’s new creature bait is meant to imitate, but the TRD HogZ has already accounted for a stack of species in both the fresh and salt. Plenty of moving parts, in the form of large antennae and fine legs, create vibration and water movement, while the natural buoyancy of the 10X Tough ElaZtech material encourages an ‘antennae up’, life-like pose when at rest on the bottom. This buoyancy, combined with TT Lures’ new NedlockZ jighead, creates a deadly stand-up presentation that reduces snagging and puts those antennae right in the face of the fish, triggering strikes. A ribbed body adds to the realistic feel and creates additional water movement, while also being perfect for holding scent. A solid core allows the TRD HogZ to be trimmed shorter for a more finesse presentation. Available in six natural colours, the TRD HogZ is a go-to for anglers chasing bream, bass, trout, redfin, flathead and more. Price: SRP $10.95 (6 pack) www.z-man.com.au

CODGER TOPWATER

ET’S FISHING ADVENTURES

LUMO SNAPPER SNATCHER

The world renowned Storm Gomoku micro and light jigging rods are the ultimate weapon for all manner of vertical fishing in both salt and fresh water – and they are now available for surf and rock fishers as well. Light and powerful, the new Gomoku surf rods have soft tips for casting distance and accuracy but plenty of power in the lower end to be able to stop even the biggest mulloway or Australian salmon. They feature hi-modulus graphite blanks, colour-coded shrink wrap grips, Fuji KR Stripper Guides, Fuji O Guides and Fuji Reel seats. Gomoku surf rods are available in three lengths of 9ft 2-piece medium heavy, 12’ 2-piece medium, and 13’ 3-piece heavy. Line breaking strains range from 8kg up to 15kg on the heaviest model, and lure casting weights start at 30g all the way through to 150g. They are available now at all leading tackle retailers. www.stormfishing.com.au

Graham Saunders, the man behind Goulburn Lures, has expanded his Codger range into the topwater market with his Codger Topwater. Easy to use, these super strong lures have a super loud clacking and splashing action that will tempt even the most fussy Murray cod. Available in nine colours, they come equipped with double rear split rings and are fitted with VMC 3X tough trebles for an increased hook-up rate. The Codger Topwater has a medium sized profile that can be cast using your standard cod fishing tackle. No need for specialised rods and reels – just put a Codger Topwater on and you can experience the cod surface fishing that everybody is talking about. Or if you just love catching Australian native fish using surface lures, then here is another quality offering from an Australian lure maker that is a must-have for your tackle box. Price: SRP $25 goulburn.lures@bigpond.com

ZMAN 3” TRD HOGZ

Black Magic Snapper Snatcher flasher rigs have landed some serious fish over the years, and it’s not by luck. Australian anglers continue to swear by their quality, and constantly send Black Magic great fish photos and feedback. Now the range has been further improved with the exciting new super lumo colour. This new rig is tied with the popular KL recurve hooks and Tough Trace, but what makes it stand out is the ‘flash’ colour, Super Lumo. The rigs tied with this material out-performed many other products during field testing, and this is due to their high luminosity and UV content. And you can also ‘super charge’ them with a Black Magic UV Torch. Snapper Snatcher super lumo rigs are available in sizes 5/0, 6/0 and 8/0. For more information visit the Black Magic website, or look them up on Facebook for all the latest catch photos, news and competitions. www.blackmagictackle.com

ET’s Ultimate Fishing Adventures features Andrew Ettingshausen’s favourite fishing destinations with hundreds of his wonderful images, essential tips and background stories of adventure. This is the ideal book for any casual or novice angler who dreams of landing the perfect catch. While reading its photo-filled pages you will explore some of the most beautiful fishing destinations across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Isles with ‘ET’ as your guide. ET’s extensive fishing experience makes him a knowledgeable and well-rounded author. While filming Escape with ET and Seafood Escape, he has travelled all around Australia, trekking inland to its rivers and gorges and fishing the deep blue oceans offshore to find the best fishing destinations. His adventures have also taken him to New Zealand, the Pacific Isles and countless islands and territories around our continent. ET’s Ultimate Fishing Adventures, published by New Holland Publishers, is available from all good bookstores or from the New Holland website. Price: SRP $49.99 www.newhollandpublishers.com

HURRICANE FAT 37 12 SHALLOW CRANK Hurricane Lures is continuing to expand its range of tournament-tested quality lures, which are not only suitable for the tournament angler but the everyday angler as well. The new Fat 37 Shallow Crank is a shallow-running lure with a fast, wide action, designed to draw attention from predators in a large area. It is ideal to use over weed beds, rock banks, sand flats and any other fishy looking structure. Suspending in freshwater and slow sinking in saltwater, it runs at a depth of just under a metre. Weighing 4.4g it has great castability, allowing you to cover large areas of water. It also comes in a huge range of colours suitable for any situation. To check out the Fat 37 and the rest of the lures in the range, go to the Hurricane website or look for them in your local tackle store. You can also find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HurricaneAustralia and on YouTube at www.youtube.com/user/ HurricaneLures. www.hurricanelures.com.au

Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au FEBRUARY 2018

103

WHAT’S NEW FISHING BERKLEY POWERBAIT POWERPOP FROG 13 A favourite meal of just about any freshwater fish is the frog.The new Berkley Power Pop Frog is a unique soft popper with inbuilt PowerBait scent and flavour. The Power Pop is equipped with a cup face popper at the front end and a mass of trailing legs at the backend combining to give it an action that fish can’t ignore. The Power Pop Frog comes with a weedless worm hook ready to fish, inbuilt glass rattle and 3D eyes. At 70mm long, plus training legs, the Power Pop Frog is a tasty meal for a variety of freshwater fish that love a surface presentation such as bass, cod, barra and saratoga. It’s available in eight colour variations so you can match the hatch to perfection. The Power Pop benefits from Berkley’s legendary PowerBait scent infused into every bait. Berkley PowerBait makes novice anglers good, and good anglers great. Berkley scientists have spent over 25 years perfecting an irresistible scent and flavour – the exclusive PowerBait formula. Fish love PowerBait so much they hold on 18 times longer, giving you the time and confidence to feel more bites, set more hooks and catch more fish! Price: SRP $8.99 Berkley-fishing.com.au

2-PIECE ATOMIC ARROWZ

Atomic Arrowz rods launched in early 2017, and brought together advanced designs and the finest Fuji components assembled on a full-graphite blank. Designed originally as series of 1-piece rods, they are now available in 2-piece models featuring the same high quality components. The focus has been on the Estuary, Offshore and Bream models, and ensuring no flat spots through the join to maintain sensitivity. The 2-piece Estuary Series has four models, starting from the finesse 70SUL (2–6lb) up to the 70ML (6-14lb). The 2-piece Offshore Series delivers superior control across four 7’ spin rods. They feature ultra-refined fore and rear neoprene grips and have an excellent balance. The 2-piece models again have seamless transition. For the Bream fans there are now 2-piece versions of the Bream Surface 70BS and the Bream Crank 70BC, making transportation and storage easier and safer. All Atomic Arrowz rods are balanced perfectly to deliver the ultimate feel and bite response, and are lightweight without sacrificing strength. Price: from SRP $189 www.frogleysoffshore.com.au

NEW COLOURS BULLET LURES

Bullet Lures have become a favourite for many trout anglers in the form of the Bullet Minnow and the Five-O Minnow. These lures’ popularity has reached the point where users are now demanding more colour options, and Bullet Lures has done so with two new colours: pearl widow and black widow. These very distinctive patterns are highlighted with UV-enhanced dots on the side of the lures, adding even more attraction to the lure. The new colours will be available in the sinking 3cm Bullet Minnow and all three styles of the Five-O Minnow (floating, suspending/ slow sink and sinking). If you are already a fan of Bullet Lures you will want these, and if you haven’t tried Bullets you should get into your local tackle store and check them out. You 104

FEBRUARY 2018

can also browse the range on the Bullet Lures website. www.bulletlures.com

NEW MONO FROM SHIMANO

PRODUCT GUIDE 13

Shimano has released three new mono lines: Exage+, Tiagra Hyper, and Tiagra Leader. Exage+ is a fine diameter Japanese manufactured monofilament with excellent clarity and super sensitivity. It has a soft feel with low memory so it lays neatly onto the spool. It’s ideal for floater fishing for snapper or even surf fishing for species such as salmon. The new Tiagra Hyper gamefishing line uses premium class Japanese IGFA-rated nylon monofilament that combines high abrasion resistance with optimal stretch. It’s available in invisible clear blue and high-vis fluorescent yellow in 15kg, 24kg and 37kg breaking strains in 1000m spools (15kg and 24kg breaking strains are also available in bulk). Manufactured in Japan, the new Tiagra Premium Nylon Mono Leader is significantly tougher in abrasion resistance than standard nylon, and offers the very best in knot and crimp strength. Available in 20-150lb, the leader is suited to making rigs for snapper right through to trolling leaders for marlin. www.shimanofish.com.au

NEW FLUTTER JIG COLOURS

Black Magic’s Flutter Jigs are designed to create a fluttering effect when dropping and retrieving, and are built with highquality components to ensure anglers are getting the most bang for their buck. Now Black Magic has introduced two new colours to the range that are sure to turn on the predatory instincts of many species. The new colours are silver with orange and lumo stripes, and blue with lumo stripes. Flutter jigs come in four sizes, 40g, 60g, 80g and 100g. The 60g, 80g and 100g sizes are supplied rigged with a high strength assist hook rigged on Kevlar thread. The 40g model has a lighter gauge hook more suited to the size of the jig, and it also uses Kevlar thread. Flutter jigs are available from Black Magic stockists nationwide. For more information visit the Black Magic website or like them on Facebook. www.blackmagictackle.com

TICA TACTICA GCA REEL

The new Tactica Baitcasting reel certainly fits the bill for the angler looking for a small baitcaster for species like bass, estuary perch, trout, redfin and for trolling. The Tactica baitcaster is packed with excellent features including a one-piece, high-strength aluminium body with a V-shaped, forged machine-cut aluminium spool. It also features a magnetic cast control system, precision-cut brass main gear, quick remove sideplate, soft EVA handles and eight ball bearings, featuring two RRB rust-resistant bearings and six stainless steel ball bearings. This new reel offers a 6.3:1 high speed retrieve that retrieves 71cm of line per handle turn, and holds 150m of 20lb braid. It’s a great choice for the beginner right through to the more experienced angler. For more information visit the Juro website. www.jurofishing.com

17 18

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

SCAN THE QR CODE!

PRODUCT GUIDE

WHAT’S NEW FISHING

The revamped Costa range - bigger, better and more affordable US-based sunglass and apparel brand Costa Del Mar have been in the premium eyewear game since 1983, and have been available here in Australia for many years. They have gone through a lot of very important and sometimes industry-defining changes in that time. The range is now bigger, the quality is better, the price tag has been lowered and they’re now available from one of this country’s largest and best known fishing wholesalers: Rapala VMC Australia. This move to Rapala brought with it renewed focus, larger distribution networks and a better connection to anglers, and a whole new range was unveiled at the 2017 AFTA Tackle Trade Show on the Gold Coast. What a perfect place to launch new sunglasses! Not only was it warm and sunny, a lot of the patrons were left needing shades all day and even inside, thanks to overindulgent nocturnal activities. Costa have always been known for lens quality, but in years gone by their range of On the saltwater flats or in the middle of the rainforest picking off carp on fly, if frames wasn’t as diverse as it could be. With the increasing need of people wanting you’re hoping to sight fish, you’d better take a high quality pair of polarized glasses. My second pair, the Half Moon, has a slightly smaller frame and lens, and is just as comfortable and easy to wear all day. For this pair I went for the blue mirror 580 glass lenses, to try something different.

TESTED

an alarming rate of 190 sharks a minute. Mostly for soup! Anything that helps to restore balance and strength to the oceanic ecosystem has my vote every day of the week. This program, as well as others that are helping coastal villages recover from devastating hurricanes or floods, is just a small example of the charity work Costa is doing at the grass roots level. But back to the glasses themselves, since that’s what we’re here for, the bulk of my on-water time is spent in small, clear-ish rivers and creeks. I sight cast to most of my fish, and for the rest I rely on spotting a split boulder or submerged laydown where the target species is likely to be. Having the right eyewear in these types of situations can be the difference between a session I’ll be exaggerating about to my grandkids one day, and a dreaded doughnut. I’ve found the Costas to cut through the glare very well in all manner of lighting, enabling me to target fish quite easily. In days gone by a 580 glass lens pair of Costas would set you back as much as $500, but right now you can pick up a set for around the $350 mark from your local stockist – and it’s cheaper again for poly lenses. This is a big win for all anglers as we have another $150 to spend on lures we certainly don’t need! The next time you’re

I found the Costa Rincon frames to be comfortable enough to wear all day, and they cut through the glare in all light situations. to wear the same glasses on the water as they do driving around town or at the pub, a freshen up was needed. Costas new range certainly offers this versatility. Gone are the days where we can get away with a pair of $14.95 servo sunnies – we need to protect our eyes and not be shunned by the fairer sex in doing so.

You can even wear the Costas in combination with a 90s-era flap hat to spot pies at the shops on the way to the water.

Most of the old Costa classics remain, but there have been some really cool new styles released that have already been a hit with anglers, myself included. I’ve worn most of the major sunglass brands over the last 10 years or so, with varying levels of success. Each brand has its strengths. Some have great lenses but the frames are bulky, rigid and heavy; some have lightweight frames but are not as good on the lens front. I’m pleased to say that the Costa Rincon and Half Moon sunglasses I’ve been wearing for the last 6-7 months are the best combination of vision, comfort and style I’ve ever owned. The bride even likes the look of these ones, which hasn’t always been the case with my fishing sunnies. She actually liked them so much we had to go and buy another pair of Costas for her in the Remora model. The Rincon are a slightly larger frame, which suits my large noggin. I’ve been able to wear them for hours and hours without the discomfort I’ve felt from a couple of other brands over the years. Clarity of vision and the lightweight frames are the standout features for me. I went for the green mirror 580 polarized glass lens, which was described to me as being the best allrounder for the mix of fresh and saltwater fishing I do. They have not disappointed in either field.

Mr Sun was certainly doing his job this day, but spotting this feisty pest wasn’t a problem with the help of the 580 lenses. Again, I have worn them in both fresh and in your local tackle store, ask about Costa saltwater situations and they have always eyewear and give them a go for yourself. You can thank me later. - Rupe performed very well. Both pairs are flexible enough that they don’t push into the side of my head too hard, but at the same time they hold firmly enough to not slide down my nose when I look down or bend over to pick up a fish. While Costa do offer both polycarbonate and glass lenses, once I tried the demo pair of 580 glass on and walked out into the sun for a test drive, I had to go that way. Weight has traditionally been the downfall of glass, but in these new styles the difference was undetectable. Something else that drew my attention to the Costa brand was how much it’s putting back into our sport and the people who enjoy it or even rely on it. Costa has long been associated with the OCEARCH Another sight cast victim - I took the program, whose goal is to save the world’s sharks from mass slaughter. Every pair of glasses off for the obligatory solo bass fishing selfie, but I wouldn’t have had OCEARCH-branded Costa models helps fund on-water research and put science the opportunity without seeing the fish first in fast-flowing water. on the side of sharks, which are killed at

FEBRUARY 2018

105

Stessl 580 Seahawk with Yamaha F130hp - SC

TENT -

RE ONLINE MO

Main: Stessl Seahawk’s Platerix hull is designed to withstand all of the punishment that fishing offshore can deliver. It’s a big, beamy and solidly built boat that delivers over 2km/L at 4250rpm. Above: With 200L of fuel under the floor, the Seahawk has a serious range – over 400km! 6mm stringers and then full height, transverse bulkhead frames.” In summary, it means that they are over-

Length.........................................................5.8m Beam...........................................................2.5m Depth........................................................1.45m Hull weight............................................... 840kg Bottom........................................................4mm Sides...........................................................4mm Capacity.......................................... six persons Max hp.......................................................... 150 Shaft.............................................................. 25”

118

FEBRUARY 2018

aluminium in the Platerix hull, combined with the foam filling makes this a quiet ride. Yamaha’s superlative F130 isn’t the maximum horsepower allowed on the hull, but it lifts the hull onto the plane with ease and at 4250rpm delivers 2.2km/L

PERFORMANCE

SPECIFICATIONS

from other plate boats on the market,” Scott explained, “We run a 100x10mm keel down the centre, which is fundamentally the backbone of the boat. Followed by that we have

DE FOR EX

Stessl boats has moved back home. With Scott James (from Horizon Boats) the new owner, Stessl is once more owned and built in South East Queensland. With decades of history for the brand in the books, it’s not surprising that Scott’s dad, the legendary Bob James, was once the foreman at the factory in one of its Queensland iterations. And Scott is excited about the acquisition. One of the first things I asked him, though, was about what ‘Platerix’ was. “Platerix describes the way that we build our plate boats, which is different

s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

Steve Morgan

CON

AN THE

bilge and batteries through a pair of watertight hatches. Without a transom door, boarding happens up the ladder and over the transom via the duckboard. On the water, the hull runs quietly. Sometimes this isn’t the case with plate boats, but the amount of

FMG

engineered and designed not to break. Ever. The boat we tested on the Tweed River and bar was a customer’s boat that has been fitted out as a serious offshore fishing

boat. Although this craft boasts 1.8m bunks in the cabin and a bait station that converts to a ski pole in a matter of seconds, it’s unashamedly a ‘dad’s’ fishing boat. With an impressive 2.5m beam, there’s a huge cockpit to comfortably fish three or four anglers at a time. Coupled with the factory installed vinyl flooring and deck wash, the clean-up options are easy. The overhead rocket launchers fitted into the canopy swallow up any rods not immediately in use and the port side live well keeps your live baits in A1 condition. There’s also an underfloor kill box under the cockpit floor. The transom design is neat, with access to the

RPM........................ km/h...................... km/L Idle................................ 4.............................5 1000............................... 8.............................4 2000............................. 13.......................... 2.5 3000............................. 23.......................... 1.9 4000............................. 37.......................... 1.9 5000............................. 48.......................... 1.4 6000............................. 59.......................... 1.2

The 2.5m of beam make this a very stable boat.

of unleaded burned. At 6000rpm the package scoots along at 59km/h, but burns fuel much less economically. It’s the same for most outboard powered boats – ease up on the throttle and your day on the water gets much cheaper. The real talking point for the Seahawk, though, is the price. Eyebrows were raised when the package on a twin axle trailer landed at under $60,000 – well under $60K at $56,990. If you want more information, watch the test video on the FishingMonthly YouTube channel (by scanning the QR code hereby on your smartphone), or go to www.stessl.com.au and you can also like Stessl Boats on Facebook.

Now that’s a lot of cockpit space – the test boat has custom synthetic floors fitted to keep it softer and quieter underfoot as well as easy to clean up.

Relaxn helm seats are lifted with a large storage box. The helm is comfortable on the test boat.

Yamaha’s F130 is destined to become a classic. Delivering quiet, economy and reliability, it pushed the test boat to just under 60km/h at 6000rpm. The best economy was at 4250rpm, where fuel use for distance was nearly halved.

Excess fishing rods can be stored in the rocket launchers, which are incorporated into the canopy.

We love flush-mounted electronics at Fishing Monthly. It means that the design is modern enough to incorporate the common units used for fit-up at the time.

Top: Side pockets are standard in a boat of this configuration. The Seahawk’s gunwales are high enough to be comfortable fishing offshore. Left: The footrest lets you lock yourself in when things get a little rough. Right: There’s a deck wash to keep everything civil in the cockpit.

Top Left: A port side live bait tank is plumbed to keep your livies in top condition before you send them to their doom. Top Right: The optional bait board fits five rods, two cans and a block of IQF pills. What more could an owner want? The board also detaches and leaves a ski pole for the family days. Left: True to its bulletproof heritage, the cabin isn’t the most luxurious we’ve ever seen, but it does the job of keeping significant others out of the sun and weather. It’s 1.8m long, which will allow most adults to stretch out and get some sleep. Right: We had plenty of fun testing the Stessl Seahawk in the Tweed River and bar! FEBRUARY 2018

119

Sea Jay Velocity Sports 550 – a big, versatile tinny

- SC

TENT -

RE ONLINE MO

CON

AN THE

DE FOR EX

T FMG

Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

It’s a real lucky dip when we get to take a boat out for a test. Sometimes we’re cursed with billiard-table flat seas. Other times we are blessed with a bay that looks like a washing machine. It’s these rough days where you can really find out what a hull can do. After all, there’s no such thing as a crappy ride on a calm sea. Sea Jay’s Velocity Sports models are based on the Samurai hull – built with a steep entry, which tapers off to around 16° of deadrise at the transom. Couple that with some wide reverse chines and you get Sea Jay’s iteration of a perfect compromise between the

ability to carve water and stability at rest. There are three models in the Velocity Sports range and we tested the largest of them. The test boat was fitted out by Stones Corner Marine as a staff and demonstration model. Powered by a Yamaha F130 four-stroke, it wasn’t missing any of the fruit you’d expect, kind of the same way you never see a butcher with an iron deficiency. After completing the

obligatory performance statistics in the sheltered waters of Raby Bay, Stones Corner’s Troy Wegner and I got the opportunity to take the rig out in more exposed waters to see what it could do. Anything up to around 0.75m the Velocity took in its stride – the length of the hull and mass of the boat allowed the craft to bridge the ‘holes in the road.’ When wind blew against tide and the waves really stood up, you needed to

PERFORMANCE RPM. Speed (km/h) Economy (km/L) 650.................................. 8......................................6.8 1000................................ 9......................................5.2 2000...............................14......................................2.7 3000.............................. 22......................................2.2 4000.............................. 42......................................2.9 5000.............................. 54......................................2.2 6300.............................. 70......................................1.4 * Fitted with a SOLAS 13.5” x 16 pitch propeller.

You can see how deep the sides of this boat are. 120

FEBRUARY 2018

Main Pic: Sea Jay’s 550 Velocity Sports is a big, beamy boat. With nearmaximum allowable beam (for towing) and a mile of deck space, this rig covers a pile of inshore and offshore applications. Above: The raised front casting deck sees the angler up the bow fishing with their feet well above the waterline when the boat is at rest. The rails are low enough to cast sidearm. come off the throttle and drive the boat through the troughs and that’s standard for a boat of this length. Also standard, if you decide to quarter the sea while off the plane, you will get spray blown back across you. Overall, though, there are few aluminium open boats that you’d take on the bay with the same confidence as the Sea Jay. The 1.3m depth allows you to crawl through the nastiest slop without stuffing the bow under. As usual, a mid-range Yamaha provides superlative fuel economy, yielding 2.9km/L at the optimal cruising range (4000 rpm) and backs it up with great hole shot (four seconds to planing speed). If, for any reason, the bright yellow hull didn’t turn heads at the ramp, the

optional accessories certainly would, especially when you decided to remote-deploy the MinnKota 80lb Ulterra. It’s a neat party trick. Coupled with a Humminbird Helix 9, you have all of the tools you need for tracking down and effectively catching fish anywhere from your local freshwater lake through to offshore and everything in between. Completing the package is the OEM Sea Jay Trailer, built specifically for this hull by Dunbier trailers. Constructed on an alloy I-beam backbone and fitted with braked mag wheels on its twin axles, you can be sure that your investment is being well looked after. Sea Jay are so confident with the combination that they double the warranty on

the hull to two years if you choose this option. As tested the boat rolls off the yard in the low $60Ks. You can get into a lowerspec Velocity Sports 550 package for under $50,000. For more information or find your local dealer visit Sea Jay’s website www. seajayboats.com.au. SPECIFICATIONS Bottom...................4mm Sides......................3mm Beam....................2.45m Depth.....................1.3m Floor Ribs.................. 14 Capacity..... six persons Hull weight..........660kg Rec hp.....................100 Max hp..................... 150 Max Motor Weight....230 Overall Length.....5.60m

Matched with a Sea Jay trailer OEM built by Dunbier, the Velocity Sports gets an extra year of warranty. It’s a damn sexy trailer, too. Aluminium I-beam construction and alloy mag wheels would make anyone feel funny inside. A steep bow entry tapers down to a 16° deadrise at the transom. On the water, this translated to the ability to punch across a chop of about 0.75m. After that, you need to slow down and navigate the troughs.

Top Left: Lots of anglers appreciate the ability to either anchor or use the electric motor, depending on conditions. There’s room in that anchor well to fit an anchor winch, too. Bottom Left: The 60” of MinnKota shaft were just enough to use in calm waters. Right: Humminbird’s Helix 9 is a great all-round unit and combines side image, down image, GPS and mapping features.

The Yamaha F130 threw the Sea Jay up and onto the plane in around four seconds. It definitely wasn’t a slouch out of the hole.

Clever use of underfloor space allows for a variety of wet and covered options in the final layout of the Velocity.

Left: Everything you want in a console is right here – room for big electronics, plenty to hold on to, double shelves out of the weather and the ability to drive from a standing or seated position. Right: The tackle trays in the side of the console were the icing on the cake. If this console was any more hotted up, it’d leave skid marks.

There’s a whole lot of workspace on this front deck. This image doesn’t really do it justice. You could lie across it.

If you’re a deeper water angler, you’ll appreciate the lower cockpit floor behind the casting deck. There are no rod lockers in this hull layout – the vertical rod storage in front of the console does just fine. FEBRUARY 2018

121