Victoria/Tasmania Fishing Monthly | November 2017 by Fishing Monthly

SPRING FUN AT LAKE EILDON • WHITING RIG DEBATE

Features Spring fun at Lake Eildon • Basics of bass lollies • Changing it up •

NEW

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Boating & kayaking Tips for yakking estuary flats • Lowdown on ICAST • MotorGuide Wireless Xi5 • Essential boat accessories • Kapten Waverider 550CC • Sea Jay 4.88 Avenger Sports •

Techniques •

November, 2017

DIY Lure making: Lipless Doc • Whiting rigs: paternoster vs running sinker rig

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November 2017, Vol. 13 No. 1

Contents WEST COAST West Coast

Portland 18 Warrnambool 18 Cobden 19 Apollo Bay

CENTRAL Geelong 22 Port Phillip West

Port Phillip North East

Port Phillip North

Mornington Peninsula

Western Port North

Western Port South

Phillip Island

EAST COAST Gippsland Lakes

Marlo 42 Lakes Entrance

McLoughlins Beach

Bemm River

NSW SOUTH COAST Bermagui 44 Eden 45 Mallacoota 45 Narooma 46 Merimbula 47

VICTORIAN FRESHWATER Horsham 61 Robinvale 62

From the Editor’s Desk... IT’S CODFERENCE TIME! R emembe r that December is Codference month! This free event in Shepparton on Sunday 10 December is a must-do for any angler who is passionate about our big, green, native iconic sportfish. It’s the second event of its type, and is a great chance to improve your native fish knowledge and angling success. Conference topics include: native fish stocking in Victoria, a keynote address from Steve Starling, Robbie Alexander on fishing the Ovens River, John Cahill on cod culture and Marc Ainsworth on native fishing lessons amongst other pertinent issues. Did we mention that it’s free? It’s a great way to participate in the Target One Million program. You can

Everyone is gearing up for the cod season opening. Image courtesy of Marc Ainsworth. register for your free tickets by Googling ‘Conference 2017’ and booking on the Eventbrite site. … AND COD SEASON IS OPEN And, of course, with the cod season just about to open at the end of the month, you can put all of your newly acquired knowledge to the

test. With the mountain of new cod tackle that was released at the AFTA Tackle Trade Show this year starting to hit the shelves, we’re sure the your cod season will be a very interesting one indeed! EILDON SPOTLIGHT Mr VFM, Peter Jung, got down to Eildon last month to give you an update on

how the place is fishing and how it’s enjoying the ability to target cod there in the closed season. Check out his feature inside for more details. GONE FISHING DAY GREAT We hope that you all got involved in Gone Fishing Day, as it’s important to make time for your passions in a world that seems to get busier and busier. And what better excuse to go fishing than on our National Day? Plenty of people who got involved and registered on the website won some great prizes, and what better way to display a show of strength than the massive participation that we experienced on the day. T h a n k - y o u , Aussie anglers! You can search the hashtag #gonefishingday to see all of the awesome images from the day.

Yarrawonga 62 Jindabyne 63 Wangaratta 64 Shepparton 66 Ballarat 67 Eildon 68

Crater Lakes

TASMANIA WRAP

BOATING AND KAYAK

REGULAR FEATURES Back to Basics

Chappy’s Hotspot

Dam Levels

Fun Page

Inland Fisheries Service

VICTORIA FISHING MONTHLY 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

Tasmanian Lake Levels

Sub-Editors: Bob Thornton Nicole Penfold Cordelia Adams

Tournament News

Field Editor: Kelly Hunt

Trade and Services Guide

Victorian Tide Times

What’s new fishing

What’s new boating

Spearfishing 74

SPECIAL FEATURES Spring fun at Lake Eildon

Whiting rigs: paternoster vs running sinker rig 12

Production: Karen Millward Jenna Milburn Keith Hawley Website: www.fishingmonthly.com.au Distribution: Gordon & Gotch Pty Ltd Subscriptions: Kym Rowbotham

OUR COVER Jarrod Day with a handful of whiting from Port Philip Bay. A Jarrod Day image.

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Basics of bass lollies

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

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All species are up for grabs at Lake Eildon EILDON

Daniel Piazza

If anybody was to ask me where I would spend most of my time fishing in November, my answer would be Lake Eildon. I love my native fishing and with the Murray cod fishing open for business at Eildon all year round, it means you can get your green fish fix and hone your techniques, ready for 1 December.

contributing factors that will see this month produce memorable fishing at Lake Eildon. After a cold and wet winter and record snow falls at Mt Buller and other snow peaks in the area, more stable weather patterns, warmer temperatures, higher barometers and slowly rising water temperatures will trigger the fish to be more active. Anglers in the know take all of these factors into consideration before heading out on the water.

that have been released into the lake are now reaching sizes that mean they need to eat more and spread further into the system in an effort to avoid each other. The urge to reproduce will be slowing and the focus on food will become a bigger priority. The biggest change, however, will come from the anglers themselves. I will touch on techniques and lures in more detail later in this article, however it is the range of techniques that are now employed by

Marc Ainsworth with a cod typical of the kind you can expect to catch from the lake. There are plenty of fish this size and bigger. Photo courtesy of Stephen Booth.

The launching facilities around Eildon are fantastic. This is the Jerusalem Creek Boat Ramp. There has been sensational trout fishing through the winter months and there’s no reason why this wouldn’t continue in November. It’s also prime time to catch golden perch in the lake. Add to that the launching options and facilities around the lake, which make getting your boat onto the water a breeze compared to the madhouse that prevails in Melbourne during the snapper run. So you have great fishing and no hassles – what more could you want? There are a number of

MURRAY COD First and foremost the cod fishery that has been created by Victorian Fisheries has now had a couple of years to mature. Over a million fish LURES Murray Cod Golden Perch Trout

anglers that will contribute to more fish being caught. The emergence of swimbaits, and the popularity of heavy spinnerbaits and chatterbaits has led to rods and reels being

available to correctly fish these lures; this has opened a Pandora’s box of fishing options in very deep or very shallow water that didn’t exist two or three years ago. Couple that with the huge range of hardbody lures, lipless crankbaits and soft plastics and every level of the water column can be fished effectively. More fish, more aware anglers and improving weather should see plenty of Murray cod being caught in November. MURRAY COD TACTICS To say that Lake Eildon has a huge amount of structure in it is an understatement. It would take you a huge amount of time to explore every option that is available to you. My favourite areas to target cod are steep banks.

Primal Spinbaits, Obsession Spinnerbaits, Bassman Spinnerbaits, Zerek Fish Trap, Zerek Live Mullet, Kuttafurra Mudhoney, Halco Poltergeist. Primal Spinbaits, Obsession Spinnerbaits, Bassman Spinnerbaits, Jackall TN60, Zerek Fish Trap, Berkley Minnow Grub (black) Tassie Devils (pink), Rapala CD5, Bullet Five-0 Minnow, Zerek Tango Shad, Mac’s Lures.

Targeting golden perch by rolling a plastic or vibe vertically up and down the trunks of trees has become a very popular and effective method. Here the author is fishing a Zerek Fish Trap on one of his favourite daddy trees. I look above the water on these banks for signs of what may lay below the surface. The dam wall is a perfect example of this and is a very popular location for anglers targeting cod. The large rocks that the

wall is made of create all sorts of nooks and crannies for fish to hide in and ambush anything swimming past; they also provide protection from predators. When you look above the waterline there are literally thousands of these

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

NOVEMBER 2017

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

Peter Jung fished the lake with the author and got into the action with this beautiful brown trout.

areas and it’s the same below the water. Other things to look for along the banks are any changes in the type of rock above the water or banks that have steps or layers on them. All provide cover and staging points for predators to sit. Last but certainly not least are lay downs or large trees that have fallen into the water. Murray cod love having a roof over their head and these fallen trees are prime locations for them to stage under. I commercially produce my own spinnerbaits so it’s no surprise that my favourite method to target Murray cod at Lake Eildon is with spinnerbaits. With the various weights and blade configurations that are now available (as well as the rods capable of casting a 3oz spinnerbait) all structure types and depths can be fished. Don’t be afraid to

immensely popular way to target Murray cod. I have to admit that this is a method I am super keen to do and learn more about. Dark or low light periods are the key times and to find areas that have a gradual sloped bank leading into an area that has weed or some form of structure. Ideally you want to be in 15-20ft of water casting to 2-4ft of water. The strikes on these lures are something else and this form

on your lures. This is not a necessity, but I have found that I have better success using in-line single hooks. You’ll notice the action of the lure change once you take the trebles off. GOLDEN PERCH If you speak to anybody that fishes Lake Eildon on a regular basis for golden perch a key factor is water temperature. The tipping point for success seems to be around

LAKE EILDON Maroondah Hw

Bonnie Doon

Mansfield Brankeet Inlet

Not to Scale

Ford Inlet

The Pines

Fraser National Park

WHERE TO STAY

Delatite Inlet

Lake Eildon Houseboats Ph: (03) 9397 6977 www.lakeeildonholidays.com.au Eildon Pondage Holiday Park Ph: 1800 651 691 www.eildonpondage.com.au Jerusalem Creek Marina and Holiday Park Ph: (03) 5774 2585 www.jerusalemcreek.com.au *Every style of accommodation is available at Eildon from houseboats to camping. These are just a few options

To Alexandra

Gough Bay

Fraser Camping Area

Eildon Boat Harbour

Howqua Inlet Alliance Boat Ramp

EILDON

Jerusalem Creek Rd Eildon Pondage

Back Eildon Road Thornton

Goulburn Inlet Big River

ulb

Jerusalem Creek

w yH alle rn V

Jamieson

1km

Rubicon River

Eildon Pondage Caravan Park

Eildon

Cemetery Upper Pondage

Lower Pondage

KEY Boat Ramp

Disabled Fishing Pontoons

Wheelchair Access Vehicle Road/Track Dam Wall

perch inhabit similar structure to Murray cod and it certainly isn’t a surprise when a golden grabs a lure intended for a cod. However, if you’re looking to target goldens specifically there are

a few things I like to look for. First and foremost is the water temperature mentioned earlier. The key temperature is 18°C and when the water temperature is consistently at this, it’s like a dinner bell

has rung and the fish can’t help but eat. Secondly there are three types of structure I like to fish. Golden perch, like cod, love a bit of structure, but tend to To page 10

There are some thumping golden perch in Lake Eildon and even though the cod are the big draw card, who wouldn’t want to catch one of these? troll spinnerbaits either. They are surprisingly snag resistant and are a great option in 20-30ft of water. Another similar style of lure is a chatterbait. Retrofitted with a paddletail soft plastic, these lures can be slow rolled around structure and are particularly effective fished along those banks that have distinct steps in them. Their flash and roll makes them irresistible to our friends the cod. Swimbaits, wakebaits or lures that swim just below the surface have become an

of fishing is very addictive. Hardbody lures, in particular the many Australianmade lures, are also very effective on the Eildon cod. The key to hardbodies is selecting a lure that will run at the correct depth for the area you are fishing. There is absolutely no point fishing a lure that runs 10ft, if the structure you are fishing is at 30ft and vice versa. Two other tips with hardbodies is fish them slowly and don’t be afraid to work them through structure, you can even run single hooks

The author looks for rock terraces with scattered trees.

16.5°C with premium fishing coming at the 18°C mark. In late September the best water temperature I was able to find was 15°C and even if you find concentrations of fish, they are very difficult to catch. November brings more consistent wind directions and warmer daytime temperatures. Warmer water will collect on the windward shorelines and will congregate the fish, producing excellent fishing for anglers. GOLDEN PERCH TACTICS Unsurprisingly golden

The key to catching plenty of golden perch in November will be water temperature. Find 18°C water and you’ll find fish like this one.

Another likely looking bank with trees that have fallen into the water. These can now provide cover for the fish.

There are a lot of likely looking banks all over the lake. The key is to look above the waterline to see what may be below. This is a prime example of a yabby bank. NOVEMBER 2017

WHITING

Whiting rigs: paternoster vs running sinker rig WESTERN PORT STH

Jarrod Day jarrodday@iprimus.com.au

King George whiting might not be high on the sportfish list, but they are most certainly at the top of the list of fish to take home for a feed. Whiting, whether you’re catching them offshore, in

characteristics. Whiting are quite a challenging species to catch and occasionally what seems like a feeding frenzy one day can be the polar opposite the next. Fishing for whiting requires a few specialised techniques. When they’re fussy, a simple rig change can be the difference between having a productive session and not.

place for each to be used. The paternoster rig is undoubtedly the most widely used rig for whiting, but this still has its flaws, especially when the fish are fickle. A paternoster rig consists of a length of leader (usually 16lb) with two dropper arms tied at equal spaces apart. Each arm is to have a hook, usually a no. 4 or a no. 6 circle hook. The main reason for the

Leader: 12-16lb Loop knot

The paternoster rig works best when fished in current. When the whiting are biting, catching two at a time is very common. 50cm 25cm

Size #4 or #6 circle hook

Sinker

Braid main line

15lb leader

45-60cm from sinker to first hook

45cm between droppers

Size #4 or #6 circle hook

Size #6 long shank hook

15lb leader Size 1 rolling swivel

Port Phillip Bay or around Western Port, are available year round. While they may be found in different locations depending on the season, they all have similar feeding

THE RIGS There are three main rigs used for catching whiting in Victoria’s waterways and while no one rig is better than the others, there is a time and a

Ezy rig sinker clip

heavier leader isn’t because the fish will bust you off or bite through the leader, but for its abrasion resistance on the weed and reef. Additionally, should a pinkie snapper,

Circle hooks are the perfect hook for fishing on a paternoster rig and extended paternoster rig. 12

NOVEMBER 2017

salmon or trevally take your offerings, by using the heavier leader you’ll have more of a chance at landing these species too, rather than being busted off and having to re-rig when the whiting are on the chew. The same goes for the hooks. Circle hooks set themselves without angler interference and fishing them this way works more effectively. Circle hooks are designed to be fished on a tight line; they don’t work the way they’re meant to on a running sinker rig due to the slack in the line. Fishing a paternoster rig with circle hooks also requires a fairly moderate drag pressure engaged on the reel. At all times the slack should be taken out of the line if you’re fishing in the current so that when the fish takes the bait, the hook sets and the fishing rod buckles, taking the weight of the fish further and aiding to the hook set. Paternoster rigs fished in this way are highly effective, however they only work in their designed way when the fish are actively feeding. Another version of the paternoster rig is the extended paternoster rig. Simply attach a swivel to the end of a length of leader with a second length of leader attached to the other end of the swivel. This second length has one looped dropper tied into it around 20cm from the swivel, and this is where

the sinker is attached. On the end of the leader is a hook. This rig is often used when the fish are feeding

on hook setting. When the fish takes the bait using this rig, the weight of the sinker will cause the hook to set as they try to

When the whiting are on the bite, fishing the right rig will make all the difference. closer to the bottom in more sandy areas where reef and weed aren’t going to cause any snagging up. Though some anglers prefer to use a long shank hook on this version of the rig, it can actually have negative effects

pull away. If you’re using a long shank, you have to strike to set the hook, which will have you lifting the sinker weight first before attempting the set the hook. This really isn’t giving any impact to drive the

Fishing a paternoster rig with circle hooks also requires a fairly moderate drag pressure engaged on the reel.

WHITING hook in, meaning you are more likely to pull the bait from the fish’s mouth than to make the hook set. Another advantage of fishing the extended paternoster rig is that when landing the fish and lifting it into the boat the rod has the weight of the sinker eliminating the fish from using the weight of the sinker to flap around and possibly dislodge the hook. Long shank hooks are best rigged on a running sinker rig.

This rig is more useful when the fish are timid and very finicky. This situation tends to be in shallower waters and when the sun is bright and high. This rig is as simple as placing an Ezy Rig Sinker Clip onto the mainline followed by a swivel and a length of leader with a no. 6 long shank hook, like the Mustad Bloodworm hooks, tied to its end. The idea in this situation is to fish baits back into a

When fishing a paternoster rig, the fish will hook themselves.

berley trail with a light amount of drag pressure engaged on the reel. It also pays to fish with this rig while holding the rod in your hand, which will enable you to strike in that split second of feeling the fish grab the bait. When the fish grabs the bait, it can move off with it feeling little pressure due to the excess line in the water. Instantly the rod tip will indicate a bite and then you can strike. A long shank hook will almost be swallowed completely and by striking the hook sets and the reel’s drag will engage, furthering the hook setting process. Using a circle hook in situations like this will see very few fish hooked; whiting will gently suck on the bait and not completely swallow the hook because of the gape on the circle. A long shank’s gape on the other hand is smaller, allowing the hook to be completely swallowed at the same time the bait is sucked into their mouth. While there is no right or wrong rig to use on whiting or one that is better than the other, there is really only a time and a place where each of the three mentioned rigs should be used. If there is one simple rule to live by when fishing for whiting it is this: when they’re finicky, fish light and when they’re hungry, fish tight.

The author fishes with heavier leader for its abrasion resistance on the weed and reef.

Weedy areas can at times cause your rig to become snagged; fishing the right rig is paramount.

NOVEMBER 2017

WHAT’S NEW FISHING LOWRANCE FISHHUNTER

The Lowrance FishHunter castable fishfinder is designed for anglers fishing from the shore or a kayak. It sends realtime sonar data via WiFi to view on your smartphone or tablet, and doesn’t require a cellular or internet connection. FishHunter Pro features a tri-frequency transducer, with four ways to view sonar data including Fish (fish symbols), Raw (arches), Bathymetric and Ice Fishing Flasher views. You can troll it to create bathymetric maps. Incorporating five tri-frequency transducers, FishHunter 3D offers five functional views including 3D Fishing and Ice Fishing Flasher, as well as a Directional Casting View that pinpoints fish depth and location relative to the transducer. FishHunter 3D can be trolled to create bathymetric or structure maps. FishHunter’s antenna ensures constant WiFi connectivity for the highest signal range. FishHunter Pro provides a 150ft depth and 160ft WiFi range, and FishHunter 3D offers a 160ft depth and a 200ft range. The rechargeable battery lasts for 10 hours of active use. Price: SRP $173.90-$218.90 www.lowrance.com

SHIMANO SUSTAIN FI

In creating the Sustain FI, Shimano has engineered a spinning reel that offers the perfect balance between rigidity and sensitivity. With its aluminum Hagane Body, the Sustain FI possesses the rigidity of a metal outer shell that maximizes impact resistance whilst eliminating body flex under load. To provide enhanced sensitivity, a Magnumlite Rotor has been fitted and offers an effortless low inertia rotation – a significant improvement on the previous Sustain FG model. X Protect technology provides Shimano’s highest degree of waterproofing protection. This technology leverages both a water repellent treatment and labyrinth structure that blocks any saltwater entry into the reel’s internals. The cold forged Hagane Gear and X-Ship provide a gearing system that is smoother and stronger than any other on the market. This gives the reel a much smoother gear transition but also unrivalled pulling power. There are four sizesfeaturing 8+1 Shielded A-RB bearings and drag output that ranges from 9kg to 11kg depending on the model. www.shimanofish.com.au

NEW GAMAKATSU CIRCLE HOOKS

NOVEMBER 2017

Gamakatsu Inline Big Bait Circle Straight Eye hooks are 4x strong and crafted using Gamakatsu’s state-of-the-art tempering process. These new hooks are high-end, tournament-friendly circles. They are heavy and versatile, designed to catch all reef species and pretty much any fish that pulls hard. Big Bait circles can be trolled, stitched into fresh bait, or thrown into a live bait. The conical point has been chemically sharpened for catch and release. The new sibling to the Big Bait Circle hooks is the Inline Octopus Circle Straight Eye hook. The difference between the Big Bait and Octopus circles is the wire strength – the Octopus is a standard wire and Big Bait a strong wire. The Inline Octopus Circle SE comes in a wide range of hook sizes, covering smaller estuary species as well as larger fish offshore. Inline Bait Bait circles come in sizes 1/0-10/0, and Inline Octopus Circle SEs come in sizes 6-8/0. Both are available in pre packs and 25 packs. www.gamakatsu.com.au

CHASEBAITS FLICK PRAWN

13 14

Hand sculptured off a real prawn, the Chasebaits Flick Prawn is amazingly realistic, right down to the finest details. When unveiling the Flick Prawn at the 2017 AFTA Tackle Trade Show, designer Grainger Mayfield said the new lure had been smashing it in field testing. “It’s been producing excellent results on barra, flathead and jacks,” Grainger said. “And you can guarantee it will be great on any species that loves to eat prawns, from reef fish to estuary species. The colour range even caters to the likes of bass and saratoga in the fresh. We believe it’s the most realistic prawn on the market.” This new lure has an enticingly lifelike movement, and it’s made from ultra durable and flexible 10X material. You can throw it into snags, slow roll or twitch it throughout drains and in open water. The Flick Prawn has colour coded lead, rattles in its tail and an ultra-strong weedless hook setup. It comes in 95mm and 125mm sizes and four realistic colours, plus the ever popular pink UV colour. Price: from $13.99 www.river2sea.com.au

OBSESSION HOTBAITS AND CLACKERBAITS 15 EZY BEACH Australian made Obsession Spinnerbaits are the brainchild of Raymond Parry, and DELUXE two of his latest releases are the Hotbaits

and Clackerbaits. The Hotbaits came about through requests by trout anglers for a single spin lure with a skirt. Since producing them, not only have trout taken to them, but also golden perch, redfin and even flathead in the salt. Available in eight head colours and fitted with either hot tip or turbo-flared skirts, there is a colour combination to suit any angler. Clackerbaits are a very versatile lure that allow you to fish the bottom of the water column all the way to the surface. Obsession Spinnerbaits does a 1/2oz version in four different blade colours (white, red, black and chartreuse) and eight jighead colours. All can be matched with any of their hot tip or turbo-flared skirts. To find out more about Obsession Spinnerbaits contact Ray on 0428 462 397, or to find your nearest stockist head to their website. www.obsessionspinnerbaits.com

PRODUCT GUIDE

The popular Ezy Beach Deluxe Beach Mate range is now available in four great colours and either balloon beach wheels or puncture proof wheels. You could also choose to have your beach mate with both types of wheels, meaning there is nowhere you can’t go with your Beach Mate! Designed here in Australia, the Beach Mate is a trolley, a comfy chair and a sun shade all in one, and it folds up easily for storage so you can keep it in the car without it taking up too much space. It also comes with a cargo net to keep your belongings secure when moving. For a limited time, Fishing Monthly readers can place an order now and receive a bonus gift: a zippered cooler bag with carry strap, so you can carry your drinks and food to wherever you are going! Price: from SRP $129 www.ezybeach.com.au

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

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PRODUCT GUIDE

WHAT’S NEW FISHING

Tough Gunnell Rod does all the heavy lifting for you I know what you’re thinking – you’re wondering what on earth this device is and what it does! Well, it’s called a Gunnell Rod, and it has two main advantages over a traditional rod. First, it allows anybody to land a big fish, regardless of the angler’s strength, size or ability. Secondly, it makes it much easier to fish in rough conditions, as you can just hang onto the handle with one hand and wind with the other. You can switch between left and right hand operation, and

A keeper red isn’t bad for the first drop.

the GR will rotate to follow fish movement. The GR is compact and can easily be stored away. You just take it out when you have inexperienced guests, or when conditions get sloppy. It’s also handy when you want to float out a pilly while flicking plastics, and can recover a teaser quickly. Designer Jason Teelow got the idea from deck winches. “Alvey deck winches are great for deep water fishing, but I wanted something more versatile,” he explained. “The GR lets you use any reel, although overheads suit it best. You can use the smallest overheads right up to any of the large 50s or 80s.” You can also use electric reel; Alvey have made a GR model with an extra line guide to suit these reels. I first tested the Gunnell Rod on a trip with Norval Charters on the Coral Sea. I love my reef fishing, and I couldn’t wait to try a device that was so unusual. When I got a chance to have a drop, I sent down a pilly on a running rig with a circle hook. Then I had to leave it so I could photograph other anglers with their catches. I came back and found the GR had hooked something, and I casually wound in a keeper red emperor – not bad for a first fish. Young Kyal Hunt had a turn next, and he brought in more tasty reefies. It was all a breeze with the GR, which took the weight of the fish. Of course, being experienced and (more or less) fit, Kyal and I didn’t technically need the GR, but hey – there’s nothing wrong with bringing in a steady stream of reefies without getting tired. It’s also satisfying in poor conditions to have that handhold, enjoying the sight of everyone else lurching around while you calmly wind in fish.

The best thing about this device though is the experiences it gives children and other people who lack strength, know-how or both, as Jason explains. “We took out a young kid called Levi who had cerebral palsy and had never fished,” Jason said. “The Gunnell Rod allowed him to get his first fish, and I’ll never forget his excitement.” Little kids can also use the GR for small species. The littles just hang on and wind, and there’s no risk of them dropping it overboard. The Gunnell Rod is stainless steel and built tough, and has a SRP of $370. If you’d like to see it in action, look up Gunnell Rod on YouTube, or check them out on Facebook. - Nichole Penfold.

The GR is perfect for bottom bouncing.

Mustad 30L Dry Backpack put through its paces At the Australian Lure & Fly Expo in July I watched the Wilson’s boys carry in a stack of new bags which I hadn’t seen on before.They looked the goods so it wasn’t long before I was pestering them about RRP’s and when they’d be available. To my delight our old mate Stephen ‘Boothy’ Booth said he’d love for us to test one for the magazines and tacklejunkie.fish. The bags are part of the Mustad Dry Gear range and were all a nice charcoal colour and looked to be finished very well. The 30L Dry Backpack was of most interest to me. It seemed a perfect fit for what I was after.

then I have dragged it all over the countryside. Up and down trails, in and out of gorges, and in the water more times than I would have liked it to be. Storage As the name suggests it’s a 30L backpack but unless I was carrying 30L of liquid (Great Northern Original) that’s kind of useless as a size. I know it’s the universal language for luggage sizing but its pretty silly. However, I was able to carry a LOT of gear with me on these trips. This included a camera, a first-aid kit, two large tackle boxes, wallet, sunglasses case, pizza

Chock-a-block full of fishing gear, food and accessories the Mustad Dry Backpack is tough and comfortable.

Carrying a lot of gear through rough terrain was a breeze with the Mustad Dry Pack. Perfectly designed straps spread the weight across your shoulders. Something sturdy, comfy to wear all day and tough enough to take a beating from sticks, rocks and the elements I encounter on long walks through skinny water country. My backpack soon arrived, and since

shapes and a spare shirt. There’s also a pocket on the front, which is where I put my phone and a drink bottle holder outside the bag for easy access. For how much stuff I crammed in, the

bags straps were set up so well that you hardly feel the weight. The load is spread right across the shoulders and there are two more clips that go across the chest and waist to stop it moving from side to side when walking. To access the main body of the backpack you can use the large zipper at the top (which rolls down at the top for extra security) or through a smaller zipper on the side. This smaller zip is handy if you’re just needing a pair of pliers or a leader roll, but I was wary of using it too much in case I left it open and dropped anything. Durability I have worn this pack for close to 50 hours

TESTED

now. It’s seen a lot of rough country and a fair few fish. At times the padded support behind the back has been dripping with sweat, caught up in thorns, multiple slides down rock faces and it’s passed with flying colours. How dry is the Mustad Dry Backpack? It’s pretty dry, but not waterproof. The material the backpack is constructed from and all the stitching held up great but I did fall backwards while fighting a fish on a wobbly rock and the front pocket took on water through the zipper and drowned my iPhone. This is more my fault than the backpack’s, though. There are other bags on the market which are similar in design with waterproof zippers, but they’re 4-6 times more expensive than the Mustad Dry pack. At $74.95 SRP, it’s extremely good value. There’s eight bags available across the Mustad Graphite Bag range, and more information is available at www.wilsonfishing.com -Rupe.

I was able to easily fit all these ‘essentials’ into the backpack.

NOVEMBER 2017

Greenaway tames the wind to win

THE FUTURE IS HERE Self-contained Electric Outboards

STORM

Craig Greenaway claimed his first ABT Costa BREAM Series victory on a wild and windy St Georges Basin at the Hobie-presented eighth and final stop of the 2017 Costa BREAM Series. Compiling a 10/10 5.83kg limit, Greenaway edged out Kris Hickson and Peter Cook to hoist the trophy and take home over $2100 in cash. For Greenaway, it was his first victory on the ABT BREAM circuit. “I’ve been fishing comps for many years,” said Greenaway after Sunday’s final weigh-in. “I drift in and out of the tournaments due to time and travel constraints. It feels so great to win my first event, I’ve never really fished well at St Georges Basin and I think the conditions really suited me during this event. I think if we had the glassed-out conditions for the whole event you would have seen the locals step up and produce some pretty good bags.” Greenaway flew out of the gates on day one. His 5/5

A standout fish from Craig Greenaway’s winning two-day limit. Berkley 2” Gulp Shrimp which he rigged primarily on 1/12oz jigheads. “I altered the weight based on the wind. The more I tucked into the bay, the lighter jighead I could go,” explained Greenaway. Day two proved to have much better conditions and Greenaway adjusted perfectly. His 5/5 2.75kg limit was still well above

plastic from the day before. I think the calmer weather had the bream a bit lethargic, so that blade stirred things up and got a few reactions I wasn’t getting with the shrimp.” His go-to blade? An Ecogear VX40 in 439 colour, a staple in almost every competitive bream

WINNING TACKLE Rod: Duffrods Basstix 1-4kg Reel: Daiwa Certate 2004 Line: 4lb Berkley Exceed Fireline Leader: 3lb Sunline FC Rock Lure: Berkley 2” Gulp Shrimp rigged on a 1/12oz jighead, and Ecogear VX40 in 439 colour

angler’s arsenal since their release. Greenaway used a long 4m fluorocarbon leader to attach his blade to his braided mainline, crediting the long leader for added stealth and stretch. “The long leader I think really helped. It gives a little bit of stretch, which is so important with small treble

NOVEMBER 2017

3.08kg limit was the only limit to break the 3kg barrier in what were some of the most testing conditions ever faced by ABT competitors. “The wind on Saturday was really strong, the forecast got it totally wrong and luckily my spot had some form of shelter. It still wasn’t pleasant but it was a lot better than in the main straits of the Basin itself,” said Greenaway. Greenaway was fishing close to the entrance to Sussex Inlet. “Just as you come out of the channel instead of heading right and around Kangaroo Point, I was tucking in to the bay on the left and fishing off the bank where I’d located a harder bottom where the bream were moving through.” Targeting these fish with a soft plastic, Greenaway relied on the ever-faithful

Costa BREAM Grand Final, a venue where he feels comfortable and has fished many times in the past. “My whole goal with coming this weekend was to qualify for the grand final; to do it by winning the event is just a bonus. I can’t wait to get to Lake Macquarie in December.”

BIG BREAM

Steve Nedeski claimed the Big Bream Prize to value add his 4th place winnings.

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

hooks, but it also meant there was no way the fish were seeing anything they weren’t supposed to. When it got tough on Sunday, I do think things like that make all the difference.” It’s hard to argue with an event champion. Greenaway now finds himself qualified for the Lake Macquarie

average for the day, and was enough to hold off Kris Hickson in second place. “Day two I relied a lot more on a blade than the

Steve Nedeski claimed the Big Bream Prize at the basin with the NSW breamer value adding his 4th place winnings to the tune of $500 for his day one kicker fish caught on a suji shrimp coloured shallow Jackall Chubby in 3ft of water at Kangaroo Point.

RESULTS – BOATERS Place

Angler

TW (kg)

Payout

Craig Greenaway

10/10

5.83

$2100 + Mercury 1st

Kristoffer Hickson

10/10

5.75

$1100 + Mercury 2nd

Peter Cook

10/10

5.61

900

Steve Nedeski

6/10

4.97

$750 + Mercury 3rd +

Big Bream $500

Mark Crompton

10/10

4.60

550

Brad Hodges

8/10

4.23

450

Alan Lister

6/10

4.01

375

Jesse Thompson

7/10

3.89

Yamaha Bonus $300

Grant Kime

7/10

3.88

Jason Harlock

6/10

3.48

For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

Hickson’s fish losses proved costly ABT’s number one ranked BREAM angler Kris Hickson nearly added another trophy to his ever-growing mantle at the Hobie St Georges Basin BREAM Qualifier. Finishing a close second, his 10/10 5.75kg limit was boosted by the event’s big bag of 3.18kg during Sunday’s final round. Hickson started Saturday’s first session targeting the shallow weed edges on the eastern side of the lake. After a slow start throwing a mix of topwater and subsurface presentations. Hickson came good, boating three fish in as many casts,

just as the wind got too much to handle. “Basically right after I got those three fish we had to move due to the wind. Everywhere out of the wind was riddled with boats.” Managing one more legal fish off a piece of isolated timber structure, Hickson was staring down the barrel of an unfinished limit with only an hour to go until check-in. “I always planned to leave time to fish the actual inlet at Sussex, and that’s where I managed to scrape out another legal fish to put five in the boat.” With Sunday delivering almost glassed-out

conditions, Hickson was able to return to his traditional run and gun approach, cranking up the Mercury Verado and running all over St Georges Basin. Starting again on the eastern shores in less than 3ft of water, Hickson again turned to a two-prong approach of an OSP Bent Minnow 76, and a lightly weighted soft plastic. “It was a slow morning for the most part. I spot hopped a lot of banks looking to sight cast to fish and digs in the calm conditions. After what seemed like forever, I stumbled across one bank that was loaded with fish.

Berkley Shrimp Ecogear VX40

BREAM S PRESEN ERIES TED BY

Kris Hickson secured another top two finish at the final qualifying round of the Costa BREAM Series. It wasn’t until I switched things up and went really finesse that I was actually able to put some of the fish I was seeing into the boat.” It was a change from 4lb fluorocarbon leader to 2.5lb straight through that made all the difference. The first cast with the lighter line produced his best fish of the day. “Small things like converting followers into fish willing to commit to eating your lure are quite often the difference between cutting a cheque and going home empty handed in an ABT event,” explained Hickson. He filled his limit with another solid fish from

slightly wider in 10ft of water. Hickson knew he had enough weight to stay up the leaderboard, but he didn’t think he would get as close as he did. “I thought with the calm conditions some of the local guys were going to bring in some pretty heavy bags on day two. St Georges Basin has produced plenty of 4kg+ bags during tournaments and I really thought one would come in that day.” Hickson was left lamenting what could have been after Craig Greenaway weighed a mere 70g heavier after all was said and done. “I hooked one of the biggest fish I’ve ever locked onto

during the first day; I had it following my Bent Minnow a few times and ended up hooking it on the light soft plastic and saw it in the shallow water before it fell off – that fish would have easily pushed me over the mark.” Hickson’s outfit of choice consisted of the new Daiwa Zero 701ULFS matched with Daiwa Luvias 1000 and 2000 sized reels. For the Bent Minnow, Hickson used 8lb Daiwa Evo8 braided line and 4lb fluorocarbon leaders. His soft plastic outfit was downsized to 2.5lb Toray Bawo fluorocarbon straight through.

Berny bags Basin win Bernard Kong claimed the non-boater title with the Melbourne-based chef and long-time ABT non-boater narrowly edging out second place and PowerPole Angler of the Year Stuart Walker. Kong’s 9/10 4.87kg limit, although one shy of a full bag, was enough to claim the trophy and over $800 worth of prizes from ABT’s group of sponsors. Starting day one fishing

with Aaron Clifton, the pair began fishing shallow. Kong turned to a favoured technique of his, slow rolling an Atomic Crank 38 in Muddy Prawn colour on straight through fluorocarbon line. Targeting the weedy flats and pontoons around Basin View, Kong managed two early fish before the wind picked up and blew them off the flat. Once the wind rose, it was out to the deeper water.

Here Kong threw an Ecogear VX40 in colour 439. “I knew that was the lure to use, because on the second cast I landed a 1.08kg fish which had the lure well down its mouth,” explained Kong. “As I removed the hooks from its mouth, it coughed up broken cockle shells and meat, and so I knew to stick with the blade for the rest of the day.” Fighting the wind and

RESULTS – NON-BOATERS Place

Angler

TW (kg)

Payout

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Bernard Kong 9/10 4.87 Costa Sunglasses & Prize Pack + Hobie Bonus 1st Stuart Walker 10/10 4.70 Costa Sunglasses & Prize Pack + Hobie Bonus 2nd Rodney O’Sullivan 7/10 3.95 JML Alliance Rod & Prize Pack + Hobie Bonus 3rd Dallas Blatchford 6/10 3.62 Prize Pack Lindsay Pryke 6/10 3.14 Prize Pack Brenton Spinks 6/10 3.06 Prize Pack Scott Wilson 6/10 3.06 Prize Pack Anthony Hassarati 5/10 2.84 Prize Pack Neil Kelly 5/10 2.79 Prize Pack Michael Hodges 4/10 2.77 Prize Pack For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

Bernard Kong added another non-boater win to his tournament CV at the Hobie-presented event. waves Kong managed one more fish, his 4/5 2.77kg bag good enough to be leading heading into day two. Fishing day two with Jason Harlock, Kong was always going to be around the fish. Using the information he had gathered from day one, Kong and Harlock plugged it out in the deeper waters of St Georges Basin. Rotating between the Ecogear VX40 and a Berkley

Big Eye blade in nugget colour, Kong slowly ground out his five fish limit. “Knowing it was going to be a tough bite on Sunday in the calm conditions, I retrofitted all my blades with lighter gauge treble hooks so I could pick up those faint bites and convert them into solid hook-ups.” Crediting the sensitivity of his Millerod Control Freak to be able to detect the subtle

bites, Kong used every bit of his knowledge to convert the timid bites to fish in the live well. “There’s no doubt the change to lighter gauge hooks and my Millerod was the difference this weekend, I could feel everything that was going on underneath the water and that made all the difference in getting the most out of the bites I was getting.” NOVEMBER 2017

Advertorial

Pro+ heads west When the legends at Deeper contacted and asked me if I’d be interested in trying one of their wireless fish finders, I couldn’t reply fast enough with a giant “Yes!” Spending so much of my time either walking the banks of small freshwater rivers and streams or fishing Copeton or Pindari dams out of my kayak, a device like the Deeper Pro+ could really take my own understanding of the waterways to a new level. The ability to see, in real time, what was hiding amongst the snags or just how deep certain holes are is something most people would not have access to – particularly in the rivers, which are just too small for someone to put a boat in and map with a traditional hard mounted sounder. Imagine the amount of anglers over the years who have wandered the same tracks as I do casting, without really knowing what laid beneath the surface. I’d now have a big advantage – the Deeper Pro+. After a few weeks of me harassing the postie each day, the package finally arrived. I couldn’t wait to get out on the water and test its capabilities.

positive, I must say I was a little sceptical on just how much I would use it and how much of a difference it would make, but I can tell you all I was pleasantly surprised. GETTING CONNECTED Connecting the Deeper unit to my phone was fairly easy and it wasn’t long before they were talking to each other and was ready to show me what lurked beneath the surface. I’m not sure on what kind of a range it has as far as how far I could cast it and have it still work, but the whole

so you can get the most out of your unit. The classic screen that is default has what Deeper calls a carbon background and shows the best overall colours. It wasn’t too bad on the battery life of my phone either – I thought it might drain it very quickly, but it was a nice surprise when it lasted for ages. TURNING FISH FOUND INTO FISH CAUGHT My brother and I are not the most technical guys in the world, and neither of us have a lot of experience with sounders, but it wasn’t long after the unit was in the water that we got the hang of what was what. We could see the snags, see the fish and were racing each other to get a cast in the right place. Some of what we thought were fish were probably snags and some of what we thought were snags turned out to be cod, but we weren’t complaining! SUMMARY Even after a short time using the Deeper, I could see why some guys I know love theirs and also why it has won so many awards all over the place, including the John Dunphy Award for

A screenshot from the author’s phone showing the different textures of bottom, depths of water and most importantly, the fish!

Here you can see a few fish hunting close to each other just in front of a bank of weed.

The tabs at the top of screen make it very easy to switch screens and get the information you need.

I ended up going fishing the same day it arrived! Even if it was winter and freezing cold, I wanted to catch some cod using my new toy. With my younger brother tagging along, I headed for a local hole that had produced fish in the past, but we hadn’t really been able to unlock its full potential since we were just guessing where the deeper holes were and fishing only the snags we could see. Even though the idea of the Deeper was really exciting and the talk about it was so

time I’ve used it the connection has stayed very strong. This might have been tested if I was casting further. The Deeper unit turns itself on as soon as it hits the water and you only need a smartphone with WiFi – it doesn’t need an internet or phone signal, and won’t chew your valuable data. VIEWING WHAT’S DOWN THERE Once you’re connected, you can change the view settings depending on if you’re fishing day or night, or even just different sunlight periods

Innovation from the AFTA Trade Show on the Gold Coast last year. They’re easy to use, totally portable and most importantly, made it easier for me and my little brother to catch fish. With Christmas approaching quickly, I’d have no problems recommending the Deeper sounder as a great gift. Anglers are notoriously hard to buy presents for, but this one is a real winner and won’t break the bank. Adam Townsend

Cod on! A beast of a wild fish that was identified on the author’s phone while scanning the hole in the river.

The Deeper unit comes with a bright orange case so it’s easy to see in the water. The author was a little worried a cod might eat it though…

Ready for action! The unit is very light and easy to cast on the author’s Dusk rod that he normally carries as a spare anyway.

NOVEMBER 2017

More than just a sounder, the Deeper Pro+ can also give you up to date weather and barometer information.

NOVEMBER 2017

Sea Jay 4.88 Avenger Sports with 75hp Yamaha - SC

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SPECIFICATIONS Bottom sheet.. 3.0mm Side sheet....... 3.0mm Beam................ 2.30m Depth................ 1.22m Floor ribs................ 12 Capacity..... 5 persons Hull weight....... 435kg Rec hp.................... 70 Max hp................... 90 Max motor.........175kg 96

NOVEMBER 2017

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

s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

Steve Morgan

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remote campsites and tote all of the gear that you need to make the trip comfortable. Available through the Sea Jay dealer network, the company has a reputation of being easy to deal with when ordering options and customisation for your

FMG

As tested, the package we took for a run weighed in at $34,500, although BMT packages start from the low $30Ks. For more information about this rig or the rest of the Sea Jay range, call into Triple M Marine at 1/117 Northgate

PERFORMANCE

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

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

three anglers comfortably, or a boat load of camping gear. It’d definitely be a great ‘weekend’ boat to get to

RPM............ km/h.................. L/h................ km/L idle.................... 4.................. 1.3....................3.0 1000.................. 5.................. 1.9....................2.6 2000.................10.................. 4.5....................2.2 3000................ 26.................. 8.4....................3.0 4000................ 43.................13.2....................3.3 5000................ 57................... 22....................2.6 5700................ 67................ 30.3....................2.2 rig. They’re big enough to build you the boat you want quickly and small enough to still listen to their customers. Sea Jay can supply trailers for all of their boats, however this hull was cradled on a Redco from Stones Corner.

Drive in Thomastown,or visit their website at www. triplemmarine.com.au, or call (07) 3397 9766. They have the full access to the range of Sea Jay boats and package them with Mercury motors.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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