Victoria and Tasmania Fishing Monthly September 2019 by Fishing Monthly

GROUND IS THAWING, LET’S GO EXPLORING!

Features

Trout tactics for open season • 8 reasons for rec fishing survey • Spring prospects •

NEW FIND THE LOGO COMPETITION SEE INSIDE

Boating & Kayaking To SUP or kayak? • Buying a used boat •

Tried & Tested

Aquamaster 530 Half Cabin with Suzuki 140hp • Re-powered Whittley hulls • New products from Rapala • Daiwa TD Zero rod range

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September 2019, Vol. 14 No.11

Contents WEST COAST West Coast

Warrnambool 16 Apollo Bay

Cobden 16

CENTRAL Geelong 20 Port Phillip West

Port Phillip North East

Mornington Peninsula

Victorian Game Fishing

Port Phillip Bay Offshore

Western Port North

Western Port South

Phillip Island

EAST COAST Bemm River

Corner Inlet

Gippsland Lakes

Marlo 36 Lakes Entrance

NSW SOUTH COAST Merimbula 40 Narooma 41 Bermagui 42 Mallacoota/Eden 42

VICTORIAN FRESHWATER Wagga Wagga

Albury/Wodonga 52

From the Editor’s Desk... I don’t need to remind you that this is the time of year that we’re all waiting for – a warming trend, season openings and an influx of snapper! Nearly every writer from here onwards is talking about it, so instead let’s jump to some boating news just released by the government and BIAVic (Boating Industry of Australia) before this hits the press. The BIAV press release announced, “Sunday morning was an amazing event for boating with the Premier, the Boating Minister and the Ports Minister all in attendance at the Warmies Boat Ramp for a key election outcome announcement. In recent months we’ve seen the announcement of a firstever Minister for Boating. We’ve seen the establishment of Better Boating Victoria. We’ve seen a massive $45m dedicated to boating in the 19/20 state budget. And

now this trio, at a prominent boat ramp, announcing the abolition of launching and parking fees. “At the same time, the Premier, Daniel Andrews, reiterated the government’s intent to use every dollar generated through boat registrations and marine licences, to boating facilities and infrastructure. Our number one wish for a long time. The Boating Minister Jaala Pulford added that work was also progressing with regard to improved management and governance models, and toward the strategic approach to directing the funds toward the best boating outcomes. We will stay close to the government as this further unfolds and, as we’ve said all along, we remain highly expectant that all election related commitments will be followed through. The Premier was very clear in affirming that on Sunday.” In summary, it looks like

the Andrews’ government is coming good on its election promises. Hopefully they’re all be sorted by the time the snapper are in full swing. We know that if they’re not, the backlash from the boating and fishing public will be severe.

GOODIES FROM THE AFTA SHOW Stay tuned next month for a bumper selection of new products from the AFTA Show. Because it’s held on the Gold Coast, we know not many of you can make it up to see all the new gear (and

there is a public viewing day this year) so we’ll bring it to you in our next edition. AUSTRALIA HAS A NEW WORLD CHAMPION A final shout out to Aussie angler, Andrew Death from NSW (pronounced DEETH, even though his nickname is ‘The Reaper’). He won the 8th iteration of the Hobie (kayak) Fishing Worlds on the Gold Coast. Being the best in the world is no mean feat, even though it is held in your own country on a species you have plenty of experience with. So congratulations Andrew, you were a great and humble winner and did your country proud. If you want to see the extensive coverage, Like the “International Hobie Fishing Worlds Association” on Facebook or visit www. hobiefishingworlds.com.

Robinvale 53 Snowy Mountains

West/South Gippsland

Wangaratta 55 Shepparton 56 Eildon 56 Bendigo 57 Nagambie 58

Back to Basics

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SPECIAL FEATURES Tactics for trout opening 8 reasons for rec fishing survey

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Jarrod Day wades up a Victorian trout stream, searching for that next trophy fish.

SEPTEMBER 2019

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Trout

Tactics for trout opening WESTERN PORT STH

Jarrod Day jarrodday@iprimus.com.au

The last three months of the trout closed season have allowed fish the opportunity to complete

back in May and June are well and truly spent. Although they will still show signs of aggression, most of these fish will be out of condition, skinny and quite lethargic when it comes to battle. It is still rewarding

models in the 1-3lb range, and they will still give a nice fight on light tackle. These fish are abundant, but catching them is not always as simple as it sounds. MAKING THE RIGHT CAST There is no doubt that

Undoubtedly the number one trout bait is the humble mudeye, pinned behind the wings.

When selecting a lure, consider the water being fished and choose accordingly. In most cases, sinking shallow diving lures are ideal for shallow rivers and streams, and one was used to land this little beauty. their spawning cycle without added fishing pressure. Large spawning trout that we had so much fun catching and releasing

when you have connected to a post-spawn brown or rainbow, but in spring it is more productive to be targeting the more energetic

trout can be quite selective in what offering they respond to and in spring they are no different. In saying that, spring is a good time for

insect activity and trout know all too well where and when to go in search of a meal. Early morning and late evenings are when insects begin to hatch and swarm over sections of the rivers and streams, and it is these times that trout can often be seen sipping the unlucky ones from the water’s surface. Trout are extremely in tune with their environment and know where and when to go looking for food. By figuring out their habits, you can pinpoint your casts to locations where they should be holding, looking for a potential meal. Given that rivers and streams are similarly formatted no

Some rivers have been stocked with XL brood stock from the Snobs Creek trout hatchery thanks to Victorian Fisheries Authority. Despite the fish being stocked, they are still not always that easy to catch.

When fishing a deep pool you want to work the bottom of the water, so a deep diving lure was required to land this solid model. A trout’s mouth is quite soft, however, they still know how to rid a hook during battle. Ensure your hooks are sharp at all times.

matter where you’re fishing, casting accurately into these trout holding locations is extremely important. Finding these features can be done with the use of polarised sunglasses. These will remove the water’s surface glare, allowing you to see obstacles such as fallen timber and large boulders that trout hide under or behind. Doing this keeps them from being seen by humans and birds that might prey on them, as well as keep them out of the main current where they can dart out and grab a potential meal as it comes down the river’s

MOTU

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

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SEPTEMBER 2019

• All-around activities • Natural contrast

The author had great success casting to shadows in the rivers.

Trout flow. Making casts well in front of such obstacles is vital in encouraging a fish to take what you have cast. It’s not just boulders and timber that can be casting

riverbank or in the shadow of a tree, and it is important that you look for these specific locations before just lobbing a lure anywhere in the river. Learning stream craft

THE TROUT LURE BOX Hardbody (shallow diving): Megabass Great Hunting 70 Flat Side, Yakamito Slim Minnow 60, Zerek Stream X Hardbody (deep diving): Megabass Great Hunting 48 Dive, Yakamito SXY Shad, Zerek Tango Shad Spinner: Wordens 309 and 310 Rooster Tail Soft Plastic: Zerek Live Flash Minnow Wiggly 90mm Spoon: Yakamito 5 and 10g Spoon, Nories Metal Wasaby 12g points. Trout are quite shy when the sun is high, and they tend to move into the shadows for cover. This could be hard up against the

is an art. Before any cast is made, it pays to sit and watch the river for a good ten minutes to understand the current and flow, so that Looking from above, you can clearly see where trout would be hiding. To the right of the angler, there is a log alongside a deep pool – the perfect hidey-hole for a bruiser.

When fishing with mudeyes, a bubble float will suspend them perfectly. However, you’ll have to adjust the depth according to the river.

when the cast is made it is right on target. Wayward casts can potentially spook a fish and then they’ll be unlikely to strike a lure on the following casts. LURE CHOICE Lure choice can be critical when targeting trout and while you may have your go-to models, it does pay to be versatile. This means covering all bases by having a selection of soft plastics, spinners, and floating,

sinking and suspending hardbodied lures. When traditionally choosing hardbodies, it is a natural instinct to purchase trout colours such as brown trout, rainbow trout and redfin style patterns. While these colours are a must have, they do tend to work best during spawning time when fish are much more aggressive and likely to fight off small trout to lure a female. In spring, natural

colours tend to get more attention, especially those with a more translucent body colour, but don’t shy from tossing a black or white coloured lure about either. Soft plastics and spinners should be in similar colours, with more focus on browns and blacks to resemble mudeyes, snails and other freshwater insects and crustaceans that trout feed on. When flicking soft plastics, keep in mind that in some rivers and streams there could be quite a strong current flow, so you’ll require a range of jigheads from 3-5g. Choosing the correct weight is imperative, as the plastic should be worked near the bottom where you can hop it around and over any debris. Spinners are a top to mid-water lure and with a constant wind will To page 10

There are many places a trout can hide in a river. Casting to the banks, shadows and overhanging trees is where you’ll encounter most fish.

SEPTEMBER 2019

BLACK MAGIC

MASTER CLASS

W I T H PA U L L E N N O N

Get a start on squid this season Squid are an extremely popular target all around the coast of Australia, and it’s easy to see why as they are great fun to catch, fantastic on the plate and a top bait. Often referred to as ‘egiing’ by enthusiasts, fishing for squid has really boomed in Australia over the past decade. These days, entire walls of some tackle stores are filled to the brim with squid jigs of every size, shape and colour combination imaginable, as well as scents and special tools for killing and cleaning. There are also ranges of squid fishing rods and reels designed solely for targeting squid, and even braided lines just for squid. Expanding even further, much of what we see on the walls here is still only a small portion of what’s actually out there and what’s coming, especially from the squid fanatical Japanese market, which is constantly coming up with new and exciting technology for the world of squidding. With all this going on, it’s easy to get lost and confused in the squidding world and forgot the basics fundamentals that make up the bulk of squid fishing success.

Any squid around 30cm in the hood is a beauty. Perhaps the most important choice to make is what size jig you be should using. The depth you’re

The author took these two monstrous squid fishing out of the boat. 18

SEPTEMBER 2019

fishing should determine this, and to a lesser extent, the size of the squid you’re targeting. The larger the jig will usually mean it’s heavier and sinks quicker. Squid jigs come in a variety of sizes starting from around 1.5 up to a 6.0. Smaller jigs from 1.5-2.0 will sink pretty slow and work well in shallow water less then 1m in depth. I use this size jigs when fishing the shallows at nighttime under around areas that are illuminated by a nearby light. Baitfish are attracted to these sorts of places and squid will move right against the shoreline to feed on them. You can also use these smaller jigs on a paternoster rig when fishing deeper water to get them down. This is sometimes a good idea when there are smaller squid around that are reluctant to hit the bigger jigs, or when you’re in areas where arrow squid are the main target. Size 2.5 jigs are my favourite size to use when casting in waters less than 5m over seagrass beds, which will typically be the best areas to find squid inside estuary. For deeper environments you could again drift with a paternoster rig or up your jig size to a 3.0 The 3.0-4.0 jigs are best suited for those fishing ocean

rocks or boat fishing offshore around the protected bays and coves with kelpy bottoms where big squid like to hang. The 4.5 and larger size jigs are good for getting down to deeper offshore reefs in less then 30m of water, where extra large calamari can sometimes congregate, and there is always the chance of picking up a monster cuttlefish when fishing theses parts too. GEAR While you could go all out and use a dedicated squid outfit, you probably won’t see the benefits unless you are very serious about your squidding. A 2-5kg 7ft graphite rod and 2500 size reel spooled with 6lb braid will certainly still do the job and cover you for just about any form of squid fishing you do, with the exception of the big jigs over 4.0. Also, if you’re land-based fishing the ocean rocks, you should up your rod length to a stick around 8-9ft. I like to use about 1m of 12lb Black Magic Pink Leader on my squid jigs. While some might call this overkill, it will save your jig if you get a tip wrap mid-cast, as it won’t bust off and fly into the drink. BEST JIGS There are so many jigs on the market these days, and they range from dirt cheap to $40 a pop, but the best value for money quality jigs around that I’ve come

The author with a cracker squid that took a fancy to the Black Magic Squid Snatcher in ghost glow colour. natural baitfish patterns when the sun’s out and the waters clear. Pinks, oranges, greens, and whites that have a bit of lumo are better for late afternoon or early morning. The new colour ‘fire glow’ in the Black Magic Squid Snatchers has been my go-to of late and

you make sure you’re letting the lure sink and stay in this zone as long as possible. Once it’s in the zone, a double flick of the rod tip to give it some action on the retrieve will help attract squid to your jig. Try not to allow too much slack line in your

A good selection of jigs to cover all situations will pay off. across are the Black Magic Squid Snatcher range. They represent excellent value for money, with a great colour range for sizes 2.0-4.0, which virtually covers everything you’re ever going to need. When it comes to colour choice, everyone has their favourites, but I like to use

out-fishing everything else. Black also has its place and is an excellent choice when fishing on a moon lit night or around areas of water that are lit up in the evening. TECHNIQUE Most of the time squid will be located in the bottom two thirds of the water column, so it’s important

retrieve, as squid jigs have no barbs, meaning unless there is resistance pulling the other way a squid can easily push forward and disconnect itself from the jig. Another tip is to have your drag set quite loose, as the heaver drag can often rip the tentacles of a squid clean off.

QUALITY TACKLE, QUALITY SQUID!

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www.blackmagictackle.com SEPTEMBER 2019

Go Behind the Scenery

Tasmania

Searun trout now, tuna later HOBART

Andrew Large

With murky waters clearing from the southern estuaries and trout biting well now we’re past the opening of the season, fresh and saltwater anglers are anticipating the calmer, milder weather as spring arrives, bringing with it the first warmer water species for the year. Searun trout have been smashing lures and chasing small amounts of bait in the

soft plastics and hardbodies. These fish have been pushed back downstream by the flush of freshwater fish and have been caught as far down as Hobart CBD. In coming weeks, the population en masse will head back upstream, following schools of whitebait that are also in the process of spawning for the year. Southern bluefin tuna are slow in the SE, mainly due to bad weather and anglers not being able to get out. Further up the East Coast around Bicheno and St Helens, fish numbers

tuna, which were always March to June. Marion, Norfolk and Blackman bays have offered good sand flathead fishing on the right days over winter, and this should only get better as spring kicks in. Storm Bay has produced the odd flathead drifting wide of Cremorne and Betsey Island, and it always fishes well during the lead up to Christmas. Soft plastics such as the Berkley Gulp Nemesis drifted slowly across the bottom have been picking up slightly larger than average fish. Calamari have been in reasonable numbers throughout the D’Entrecasteaux Channel. All other areas have been a little quiet throughout August, probably due to the ground swell keeping fish offshore. As we enter spring, these fish will start to think about spawning and will be found over the many seagrass beds in the Southeast and East coasts. Northwest Tasmania and the mouth of the Tamar River are hotspots at the moment. Yamashita 3.5” jigs and the deeper more heavily-weighted models, with their warm jacket

and LIVE finishes, are my go-to choices. Garfish have been available at Lewisham and Southport. Finding them has been hard but a prolonged berley session has normally attracted fish. Get in quick if you are keen on a feed of these little sportsfish, as the larger winter or sea gars won’t last much longer. Many anglers prefer to chase these in sheltered near-coastal waters from jetties and rock walls but I prefer to fish an ocean coastline or harbour that offers protection from the elements, as fish on a seaward zone tend to be larger, up to nearly 350mm long. Snotty trevally have been responding to berley around many coastal jetties. A boiled mussel or a small piece of cubed squid tentacle seems to do the trick. Be warned, these fish are opportunistic when found. They have been reported recently at Triabunna, Nubeena and Hobart CBD. Trout fishing has been very productive lately with good captures last month. Medium water levels – the results of mediocre winter rains – have seen trout working the edges of

Tasmanians do it tough during spring. Many simply choose to break the ice and fish. Derwent and Huon estuaries. Cradoc seems to be a hotspot for anglers in the Huon, while Store Point in the Derwent has seen its fair share of the action. Small 50-70mm bibbed minnows such as the Black Magic BMax in Maniac have been effective either spun or trolled from a boat. Those chasing estuary trout have also taken bream on

have improved, with numerous fish caught. In recent years, September and October have been heralded as the ‘jumbo fish’ months. As locals, we are left wondering if 100kg+ fish have always frequented our inshore coastline areas but somehow avoided gamefishers trolling lures at that time of year. Instead, we fished the old traditional months for

Some SBT candy – a box full of Zacatak pusher teasers in super redbait.

Fly fishing the Derwent River for searun trout is even more challenging in spring. many highland lakes. Woods and Tooms lakes have shared the opening limelight with other waters such as Great Lake and Bronte Lagoon just beginning to warm slightly, seeing their trout become active in the past few weeks. At this time of year, many of the hundreds of galaxia species begin to spawn close in against the shore, allowing anglers to target quality fish wading or drift spinning from a boat. Lake Crescent sees golden galaxia breeding during September and October, and it’s best to use a larger bibbed lure like the Rapala BX Minnow 10 in rainbow trout or smelt pattern. Trophy fish up to 12kg are available to persistent fishers who choose to fish its murky waters with a larger than normal offering. These trout are all wild fish

in this size range. Up until recent times, Lake Crescent was not stocked by IFS. However, these fish are easily recognised, as they don’t fit the typical trout profile for this water. In short, spring offers some of the best temperate water fishing Tasmania has to offer, with many species from trout to calamari making the most of things before hot summer influxes curb their activity too much. Spring sees the weather settle somewhat and windows of calmness allow many to venture forth after seemingly months of hibernation. Many of our best bread and butter catches such as flathead are to be had early in the season – so dust off, rug up, have the sunscreen at least ready and get out to make the most of the new warmth in the air.

HYDRO TASMANIA WATER STORAGE INFORMATION Water Storage Information as at 8th August 2019 Lake/Lagoon

Metres from full

Comment

Trevallyn Pond..................................1.01........................................................Steady Lake Mackenzie................................1.17........................................................Steady Lake Rowallan..................................0.61........................................................Steady Lake Parangana................................0.00.......................................................Spilling Lake Cethana....................................4.06........................................................Steady Lake Barrington................................0.00.......................................................Spilling Lake Gairdner...................................10.26......................................................Steady Lake Paloona....................................1.68........................................................Steady Lake Augusta....................................0.72........................................................Steady Arthurs Lake.....................................1.54........................................................Steady Great Lake........................................13.43......................................................Steady Little Pine Lagoon.............................0.45........................................................Steady Shannon Lagoon...............................0.10........................................................Steady Penstock Lagoon..............................0.01........................................................Steady Woods Lake......................................1.25........................................................Steady Lake St Clair.....................................1.45........................................................Steady Lake King William.............................2.54........................................................Steady Lake Echo.........................................6.53........................................................Steady

Dee Lagoon.......................................0.00.......................................................Spilling Pine Tier Lagoon...............................1.40........................................................Steady Bronte Lagoon..................................1.28........................................................Steady Bradys/Binneys/Tungatinah..............1.55........................................................Steady Laughing Jack Lagoon.....................2.84........................................................Steady Lake Liapootah.................................2.53........................................................Steady Wayatinah Lagoon............................0.01........................................................Steady Lake Catagunya................................0.77........................................................Steady Lake Repulse....................................0.00.......................................................Spilling Cluny Lagoon....................................0.96........................................................Steady Meadowbank Lake...........................0.33........................................................Steady Lake Burbury....................................2.47........................................................Steady Lake Margaret..................................0.04........................................................Steady Whitespur Pond................................5.75........................................................Steady Lake Newton.....................................2.59........................................................Steady Lake Plimsoll....................................5.44........................................................Steady Lake Murchison................................7.56........................................................Steady Lake Mackintosh..............................0.79........................................................Steady Lake Rosebery..................................0.45........................................................Steady Lake Pieman.....................................2.74........................................................Steady Lake Pedder......................................0.48........................................................Steady Lake Gordon.....................................24.51......................................................Steady

These levels are provided for an indication of lake level only and can vary from day to day. For more up-to-date lake level information please visit www.hydro.com.au/home/Tourism+and+Recreation/Lake+Levels.htm

SEPTEMBER 2019

Inland Fisheries Service

Boat ramps to be upgraded at inland waters IFS

Tim Farrell

MAST have announced successful applications to the Recreational Boating Fund for 2019. Four inland projects that have been funded in this round: • Darwin Dam Lake Burbury – rebuild the launching area. • Wilmot (Lake Barrington) – new pontoons at boat ramp. • Lake Leake boat ramp – new pontoon. • Millbrook Rise (River Derwent) – pontoon extension. These projects represent a significant investment towards improving boating facilities at inland waters and are supported by Hydro Tasmania, Kentish and Northern Midlands Councils. CORRECTION TO THE TAS INLAND FISHING CODE 2019-20 There is a mistake in the printed version of the Tasmanian Inland Fishing Code 2019-20. On page 27 – it says, under ‘Lake fisheries rules’, a minimum size limit of 300mm, a daily

bag limit of 12 fish, open to all fishing methods, and a season of 3/8/193/5/20. Examples: Arthurs Lake, Bronte Lagoon, Lake Echo, Laughing Jack Lagoon, Meadowbank Lake, Pine Tier Lagoon,

Wayatinah Lagoon. Bronte Lagoon and Meadowbank Lake should not be in the list of examples. They have different rules. Bronte Lagoon is not open to all fishing methods,

but is fly and artificial lure only (all the other rules are right). Meadowbank Lake has a minimum size of 300mm (with only 2 over 500mm), is open to all fishing methods, is open all year

The new bridge over Tumbledown Creek (Arthurs Lake) restores access to Gunns and Little Lake.

and a daily bag limit of five fish. Meadowbank Lake is listed again, and correctly, in the River and Lake Fishery Exceptions table on page 31. Bronte Lagoon is not listed again in the table. We have corrected the mistake in the electronic version available for download from the website, sorry for any confusion. NATIVE TREES PLANTED ON THE TYENNA RIVER With fantastic weather and a great crew, the Willow Warriors planted 700 native rushes, shrubs and trees along a stretch of the Tyenna River replacing recently removed willows. The willows, removed by the landholders at the Westerway Raspberry Farm, had been restricting access to the river and affecting fish habitat. As they grow, our native plantings will help to shade the river, stabilise the banks (as the willow roots break down) and improve river health. There were both new faces and seasoned Willow Warriors at the working bee and the many hands made light work of a big job.

Participants had a chance to give back to one of Tasmania’s premier trout fishing rivers and the landholders that provide access to it. If you are interested in joining the next Willow Warriors event or hearing more about our 10-year plan to eradicate willows from the Tyenna River get in touch with Magali from the Derwent Catchment Project (megali@ derwentcatchment.or or 0424 277 226) or Neil from the Inland Fisheries Service (0438 279 421 or Neil.Morrow@ifs. tas.gov.au). A NEW BRIDGE AT TUMBLEDOWN CREEK Tumbledown Creek bridge was closed in 2018 due to structural deterioration. This closure has prevented access to Little Lake and Gunns Lake. We are pleased to inform you that Hydro Tasmania and TasNetworks have now replaced the bridge, and the public can now use it. The road remains as a 4wd track, so please drive to the conditions.

DROP IN TO YOUR LOCAL QUINTREX DEALER! TASMANIA Lewis Marine

273 Kennedy Drive, Cambridge TAS p 03.6248 3222 www.lewismarine.com.au

BENDIGO

Bendigo Marine & Outdoors 160 Midland Highway, Epsom VIC p 03.5448 3988 www.bendigomarine.com.au

GEELONG

Geelong Boating Centre 88 Barwon Heads Rd, Belmont VIC p 03·5241 6966 www.geelongboatingcentre.com.au

BRAESIDE

JV Marine World 878 Springvale Rd, Braeside VIC p 03·9798 8883 www.jvmarine.com.au

LAVERTON NORTH JV Marine World

15 Fitzgerald Rd, Laverton North VIC p 03·9368 7100 www.jvmarine.com.au

BAYSWATER Streaker Marine

461 Mountain Hwy, Bayswater VIC p 03·9729 8288 www.streakermarine.com.au SEPTEMBER 2019

WHAT’S NEW FISHING EQUALIZER TWIN PIN PRO

The Black Magic Equalizer has grown a reputation around the world for being the ultimate fish fighting gimbal and harness, and now it’s even better. With the advent of different fishing styles and the growing popularity in bent butt rods, Black Magic has introduced a new Equalizer, called the Twin Pin Pro (patent pending). The change is simple yet significant, offering a great advantage to anglers who use both bent and straight butt rod types. As the name suggests, the Twin Pin Pro has two pins, one in the traditional recessed position, and a new pin in the front of the rod bucket. Now, anglers have maximum leverage whether using a straight butt or a bent butt rod, without the need for an adaptor. Simply choose the best pin for your style of rod and you are fishing without restrictions. Head to the Black Magic website to see more information, photos and a video of the Twin Pin Pro. www.blackmagictackle.com

OKUMA HELIOS SX SPIN RODS

Taking on all comers and reigning supreme in the Best New Rod category at the prestigious 2018 EFFTEX tackle trade show, the eye-catching Okuma Helios SX spinning rod is now available in Australia. There are three models in the range, covering many of our most popular light spin applications. Helios SX rods offer anglers high end components, ultra-light feel, crisp actions and incredible value for money. Features include 30T Toray carbon construction, creating slim blanks and fast actions, Japanese EVA split grip design, comfort grip ergonomic reel seat and Seaguide Gun Smoke SS guide frames with zirconia guide inserts. All up, it delivers classy looks, quality components and proven performance at an affordable price. The range consists of the following models: HSX-S-702L (light action, 7’0”, 2-piece, 1-3kg, 1-8g casting weight), HSX-S-702ML (med light, 7’0”, 2-piece, 2-4kg, 3-15g) and the HSX-S-702M (medium, 7’0”, 2-piece, 3-6kg, 5-20g). Price: SRP $109.95 www.okuma.com.au

STRIKE PRO X-BUSTER

The Strike Pro X-Buster is a deadly swimbait with a superior quality and finish. This jointed swimbait replicates a bony bream to perfection and is deadly on barramundi and Murray cod. It has an outstanding side to side action, and you can crank, rip, twitch, pull, jerk or troll it. Just remember to give it a good pause; it glides deadly to the left or right and it stays in the strike zone. This lure is extremely strong, with a tensile strength of 35-40kg, and it comes fitted with extra strong split rings and trebles so it’s perfect to use straight out of the packet for large species. The X-Buster is 17cm long, weighs 80g and suspends at approximately 4ft. It also features extra loud in-built rattles for added attraction, allowing the fish to home in on the lure in murky waters. The X-Buster is available in four natural baitfish colours and is a must for the serious swimbait angler. www.jurofishing.com 60

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BASSDAY BACKFIRE 4 Bassday’s expertise in the surface lure market is second to none, with the SugaPen one of the deadliest surface lures available. Their newest creation, the Backfire, was originally designed for catching black porgy on Lake Hamana in Shizuoka, but it has proven itself in our local conditions already. And like the SugaPen, it’s sure to be a favourite for keen anglers. The Backfire is 65mm long and through wired, making it strong and dependable. It weighs 7.5g and casts exceptionally well for a small lure. The large cupped face is capable of both dramatic pops, and small subtle, ripple inducing pops, when using a slow and light touch. The slim profile produces little wind resistance. The action is that of a classic popper and will be excellent for bass, bream and other surface feeders. It works best with a ‘pop, pop, pause’ technique. The new model comes in eight colours, and all but one have been designed exclusively for Australia. To find out more visit the Bassday Australia website, or Like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BassdayAus. www.bassday.com.au

DAIWA KIX LT

Combining many of Daiwa’s latest technologies with stylish looks and contemporary design, the Kix LT delivers on both performance and price. The Kix’s impressive design and strength begins with its ultra strong, ultra corrosionresistant alloy body providing a rock solid foundation for the reel’s long list of features. Daiwa’s LT Concept delivers lightness and toughness while Tough Digigear provides flawless internal gearing, with its high-precision cutting technique achieving perfect gear meshing and ultra-smooth performance. MagSeal protects from the elements, while Air Rotor, ATD, LT’s Longcast ABS spool, Perfect Line Stopper, Air Bail and EVA knob combine for superior performance, power and precision. The new Kix LT is available now in six different sizes. www.daiwafishing.com.au

UPGRADED FG WIZZ

The FG knot is the best braid-to-leader knot because it has the slimmest profile of any other knot, allowing you to reel it through your guides and use longer leaders. It’s also stronger than any other braid-to-leader knot. This tool leaves your hands free to tie a slim, uniform and reliable FG knot every time, quickly and easily. There is no need to use your teeth or your rod. The FG Wizz is compact so you can take it anywhere. This Aussie invention is hand-made by angler Ray Fewell. “The original FG Wizz has been selling well, and everyone who has one loves it,” Ray said. “If there has been any criticism at all, it’s the fact that it doesn’t handle heavy braids and leaders as well as the lighter sizes. That’s because the stems get drawn together at a faster rate. “The new version is more versatile, holding heavy leader better in the back bobbin when finishing the knot.” To see how easy it is to use, look up ‘FG Wizz’ on YouTube. Price: SRP $44 www.fgwizz.com.au

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

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A perfect combination of touch, power and looks It would be the understatement of the millennium to say that product developer/fishing nerd Tommy Slater and the team at Daiwa Australia have been busy in 2019.

some time working out exactly which rods I’d get the most use out of. I initially asked for one of each model (16 total rods), and once the laughter on the other end of the phone stopped we settled on one

WHAT’S NEW FISHING

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setting means little to nothing once you’ve actually strapped a reel to it, chosen a lure and set off to put a REAL bend in it. As crazy as my old mate Jimmy Reid from ABT can be, he’s got nothing on a wild bass who’s decided your Mazzy Pop looked good for afternoon tea and is heading back to the gnarly snag he calls home. In the three months or so I’ve been fishing the TD Zeros I’ve been most impressed by how well they’ve thrown lures of all different shapes and sizes. Using everything from Bent Minnows and iWavers through to

Throwing jigs into tight cover was easy with the TD Zero baitcaster.

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A wild fish that was extracted from a nasty snag thanks to the abundant low end power.

various bass jigs, crankbaits and vibes, they’ve handled everything asked of them with ease. And when I put those lures in the right spots and actually hooked a fish or tiger squid, the fun really began. Ask any angler or experienced tackle store employee, and they’ll say that previous Daiwa rod ranges had too many versions of the same rods. The livery, cosmetics and price points would all change, but most of the lengths, weights and actions were very similar. This has really started to change in the last 12 to 18 months, and the TD Zeros are a perfect example of that change. The two models I’ve fished with so far (I’m still holding out hope the other 14 models will show up any day now) both have actions that are different from older Daiwa models I’ve got in the rack. If you were to just read the numbers though, you’d assume they’d be very similar to fish with. The spin rod has a light action and a fast taper, making it perfect for light lure work, so I’ve primarily used it for casting surface lures across flats for bream and whiting. The extra rod length means I can cast a long way without a lot of effort and once connected, the fast taper surrenders the tip of the rod without giving away power. This means you are less

FOR EXTR

spin, and one BC option. You can’t knock a bloke for trying right? In the end I settled on the 6102MLB for the baitcaster and the 732LS in the spin, with the bulk of my fishing being done in skinny freshwater and my local estuaries targeting bass, bream, squid, jacks and so on. FIRST IMPRESSIONS Unboxing is always fun, and holding both of these rods in the hand was no exception. Yes, they’re very pretty and everything is styled perfectly from the hook keeper to the ergonomic Daiwa reel seat and EVA grips, but the first thing you notice is just how light they are in the hand. As you all know, the natural thing to do with a new rod is to put a bend in it, and so every person who walked through our office did exactly that and everyone remarked how nice the new tapers were and how much power you could get out of a light set-up. ON-WATER PERFORMANCE Of course, how a rod performs in an office

Constant releases of new ranges of line, accessories, reels and rods has created plenty of work for them, and have given us mere anglers plenty to drool about as new press releases were rolled out and videos of them in action dropped on YouTube. One launch that really took my fancy was the re-vamped TD Zero range. The Zero name has been stickered on Daiwa rods for a long time now, but the 2019 version is the boldest and most ambitious version ever, with a range of spin and baitcast options to suit just about any light tackle angler in the country. Striking colours, unique handle designs, a balanced combination of Fuji stainless steel, titanium and SiC anti-tangle guides and the inclusion of a rod sock make the 2019 model an instant and impressive upgrade from previous offerings. When I was asked if I’d be keen to put them to the test for Fishing Monthly readers I said YES! very quickly. Then I had to spend

Close quarters bassin’ means you better have quality gear on your side.

likely to pull small hooks out of lips, but you can maintain control during the fight. It was matched with an older model 2506 Luvias and felt very well balanced in the hand. The baitcaster has now accompanied me on many boat and kayak trips on dams and skinny bass water, and has been tasked with fishing everything from Soft Shells and Shinmushis in the timber at dawn to spoons, jigs and vibes on schooled fish while the sun blazed above. I paired it with one of the new Tatula 150H reels and it’s been a dream to fish with. BANG FOR YOUR BUCK The RRP on the TD Zero range is $299, which is about the middle of the road in today’s fishing retail market. There are plenty of rods that sit either side of this price point, but there aren’t too many that offer as many options in the range and come packed from tip to butt with so many premium features. The 16 models cover everything from ultra light finesse fishing through to heavy work you’d expect to encounter in far north QLD or the Territory, and if all the models are as well built and thought out as the two I’ve been playing with, they’ll handle it easily. PICK ONE UP As I’ve mentioned, the rods do have particular actions that may be a little different from Daiwa rods you’ve used in the past, so I’d highly recommend getting into your local tackle store and putting a bend in one. A red hot looking rod with a free Daiwa rod sock for under 300 bucks is well worth it. – Rupe Gaden

SEPTEMBER 2019

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Perfect timing for flathead season

The flathead season on Australia’s east coast hits its peak in Southeast Queensland in late September, and the action filters its way south as water temperatures increase in December and January. Anglers all the way to bottom of East Gippsland in Victoria, and the southern coast of Western Australia, head out looking to tussle with a flat fish. Those of you who follow the Tackle Testing Booths in the magazines and the www.tacklejunkie.fish website know I love targeting flathead. When the team at Rapala Australia wanted to do something flatheadrelated, I was on board straight away. Much of what they sent me was newly released in 2019, and I could see that the lures were likely to catch their fair share of flathead. For now though, let’s start with the rod, reel, line and leader.

Rapala Australia’s portfolio of brands cover all the bases for you to catch flathead. The author’s chief product testing assistant, Nicholas Willett, has had a lot of success using paddle tail plastics this season. This flathead took a liking to a 4” 360GT Coastal Mangrove Minnow. The Rapala Maxwell rod that they matched with a Rapala R-Type reel immediately intrigued me. The Maxwell rods are available in nine different spin configurations, two of which are new for 2019. The rod to be tested was the 7’ 2-piece, 2-4kg model (MXS702L). Maxwell rods fit into the finesse spectrum of rods – super lightweight, quality Fuji KR Concept

guides, skeleton reel seat with an EVA foregrip and composite cork rear grip. They are a fast taper configuration. The Rapala R-Type 25 reel they matched it with is a new size within the R-Type Spin range, added in 2019. It and the R-Type 35 have been added to the three other sizes available this year. These reels have 6+1 ball bearings and the new models have a 5.2:1 gear ratio with a 6kg drag rating. A big part of the Rapala Australia portfolio is the Sufix range of lines. I was provided with a 10lb 150yd spool of Sufix 832 Advanced Superline in coastal camo colour to put on the reel, and some Sufix Super 21 fluorocarbon leader to go with it.

Both lines are recognised for their abrasion resistance and sensitivity. The Sufix 832 is an interesting concept. It is an 8-strand line with 32 weaves per inch of line. The line itself is a blend of 7 HMPE fibres and a GORE performance fibre. The GORE fibre assists with abrasion resistance while the HMPE fibres provide the strength and sensitivity. The Sufix Super 21 complements the main line, providing a strong, supple and invisible leader to fish with. VMC COASTAL X JIG HEADS AND STORM 360GT COASTAL SOFT PLASTICS The Coastal X jigheads and 360GT Coastal soft plastics were a new release for 2019, following on from the highly successful Storm 360GT Searchbait range. The VMC Coastal X jigheads range from 7-14g and come in 2/0-4/0 hook sizes. I would call the hook medium heavy, certainly fine enough to get through the top lip of a flathead. Storm 360 Coastal plastics come in a number of profiles and sizes, and you can find more information in the fact box hereabouts. Each style has eight colours. FIRST IMPRESSIONS The combination of the Rapala R-Type

reel and the Maxwell rod is a good one. It is well balanced, and although the reel feels a little heavy compared to some out there, it is spot on for the rod. Initial impressions of the rod where that it is quite soft or very tippy, whichever way you want to say it. I did have concerns that casting a 3/8oz or 1/2oz jighead and plastic may be a challenge, and that the initial power required to set the hook on a larger flathead may not be there. Loading the rod correctly (not the wiggle test) alleviated this concern. As tippy as the rod may be, there is plenty of power from two thirds of the way down the blank to deal with the above lures and to drive that hook home. The VMC Coastal X jigheads are also a little different. Their medium heavy wire covers the best of both worlds – fine enough for quick hook penetration with the strength to give you peace of mind if you need to dictate terms while fighting a fish. I would have loved for the 3/8oz to come in a 4/0 hook (like the 1/2oz) not just 2/0 and 3/0. It just has that hook point a little further back when you are fishing 4” and 5” plastics. I did love the concept of a second eyelet under the head. You can run a blade or add a treble or stinger hook, something that shifts the odds just a little

STORM 360GT COASTAL PLASTICS Type

VMC Coastal X jigheads have a second eyelet so you can add a blade, treble or stinger hook. The author has chosen to add a stinger to the tail of this 4” Storm Coastal Shrimp.

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Coastal Shrimp Coastal Mangrove Minnow Coastal Manta Tail Coastal Largo Shad Coastal Trick Tail Minnow

Size

Colours

Plastics per packet

3” and 4” 3” and 4” 4” and 5” 3” and 4” 5”

8 8 8 8 8

7 7 7 7 7

PRODUCT GUIDE more in your favour. The 360GT Coastal plastics range has five styles, of which I selected four, and they are a good variation on traditional proven profiles. The Coastal Shrimp and the Manta Tail were my initial favourites. I also like the colour range, as I have always been a fan of contrast colouring, whether it’s layers or tail contrast. Each model has enough natural and ‘out there’ colours to meet most anglers’ needs. IN THE FIELD It has been an interesting three months testing the gear and plastics on my local flathead. Lower rainfall and longer than expected warm weather has my local haunts fishing a little differently from previous years. Smallish (3-3.5”) baitfish profiles have been the go. I expected the 3” Coastal Shrimp and Mangrove Minnow to be the standouts,

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too many fish that don’t like a feed of prawns. Also coming in 3” and 4” sizes, the larger size seems bigger than it is. I did use a stinger hook set-up with it on those occasions when the fish weren’t in full smash ’em mode. It has proven to be the downfall of plenty of flathead, and has its fair share of bycatch as well.

Flathead haven’t been the only fish to take a liking to the 3” Storm Coastal Shrimp. This nice little snapper smashed one in the new penny colour.

The Rapala Maxwell rod fully loaded during a cast. and I was half right. The Mangrove Minnow paddle tail comes in two sizes (3” and 4”) and is quite a slender profile. What was unexpected was how hard the tail thumps. The feedback through the rod in amazing considering the profile of the plastic. This has translated into some good fish being caught, but not as many as I expected it to. The season has been about finesse, and maybe the Mangrove Minnow was a bit full-on for some of the fish. The Coastal Shrimp, however, has exceeded my expectations. The profile suits any style of retrieve, and I don’t know

The Coastal Manta Tail and Trick Tail Minnow are a jerkshad configuration with different tail set-ups. Flathead love this style of plastic, and this proved to be the case with both lures. The Trick Tail Minnow is a 5” plastic where the Manta Tail is available in either 4” or 5” sizing. Flathead are not afraid of a large plastic, and the Trick Tail Minnow has caught its fair share of fish, but the Manta Tail has been winner between these two plastics. Like the Coastal Shrimp, the Manta Tail has accounted for some fun bycatch as well. The Rapala combo has been ideal for targeting flathead. The reel has a smooth drag and the rod is easily powerful enough. The combination of the Sufix 832 braid and Super 21 leader with the outfit is next level. The feedback through the rod from the line is second to nothing I have tested. You feel everything that is happening at the end of line, which is exactly what you want when you’re fishing plastics. The

No wonder the author is a fan of the New Penny 3” Coastal Shrimp!

Although all the Storm plastics tested caught fish, the author’s favourites were the 3” Coastal Shrimp and this plastic, the 4” Coastal Manta Tail.

This mulloway was a welcome by-catch. It was caught on a 4” Storm 360GT Coastal Manta Tail in the kickin chicken colour.

marketing for the Superline in particular is all about abrasion resistance, and I can’t fault it. More importantly for me, they are great to tie knots with. You can deal with your line being rubbed through, but not your knots giving way. FINAL THOUGHTS As an overall package, Rapala Australia has done a great job, and anybody who likes chasing a flathead or two should check out these products. The standouts for me were the Storm 360GT Coastal Shrimp and the Coastal Manta Tail. The Sufix 832 Superline is amazing too. Although I did like the coastal camo colour that I tested, I would probably steer towards the neon lime colour, as my aging eyes need all the help they can get. You can check out these products in your local tackle store, on their website at www.rapala.com.au or like Rapala on Facebook to get all the updates on their new products. – Peter Jung

The author didn’t expect to catch this on a 360GT Coastal Shrimp.

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The state of fishing tournaments At Track My Fish, we have been busy with tournaments pretty much every weekend since January 16, with more than a few weekends requiring a presence in more than one event. While we run some from home base, we get around to a good many of them providing on the ground support to the tournament organisers. Every now and again, someone has the thought that fishing should be an

recognition be it from family, mates or on social media. In other words – now there is a base to work with if you were going to build the sport. I thought this might be a good time to take a step back and have a look at the tournaments we are involved in and where fishing is up to from a sports perspective and where it might go. STANDARDS ARE STILL FEW AND FAR BETWEEN One of the things that defines most sports is the standardisation of the rules and

without one of the variants of bass boats from the US, which is a pretty sizable investment given the dollars on offer. Similarly in the barra circuit, electronics plays a pretty big role in success. At the community event level that is less of an issue, but only because they typically tend towards simpler rules like biggest fish wins. In places like the UK and Europe, peg fishing has provided something of a standard by physically constraining the fishing area of fishers, but that works in the

closest to fishing is martial arts like karate and taekwondo. Both of these martial arts provide a myriad of stylistic and philosophical differences and are every bit as fragmented as fishing. In order to resolve the need for standards and to bring kids through their system, they broke into two systems, traditional and sports. The traditional maintains all the values and variation you would expect, the sports path offers a consistent set of rules. This allows the sport to bring kids into competitions with a clear path of the skills they need to develop in order to compete. Let me say – they didn’t get there on any easy path. It took a lot of compromise. COACHES SHOULD BE A THING Back a couple of years ago, one of the locals that wanted to win the Rocky Barra Bounty turned to Johnny Mitchell, a renowned fishing guide who provides training in fishing skills. The investment paid off with victory. I have often wondered

the next generation. All coaches perform that role slightly differently based on interest but there is one thing that is consistent among all of them – all coaches are focused on progression of their charges. Fishing has kids clinics in varying forms, some commercial, some volunteer but they are simply focused on introducing kids to fishing. Only a small segment of them are focused on taking kids through the gears in terms of skills, and all too often that is left to the invested parent or for the kids to work it out themselves in their teens. Note – that is easier in the rural areas than in the cities but it happens in both. By the way, I see this independent development of skill as being one of the key strengths and appeals of fishing – there is no way to progress other than under your own steam. All the same, this is a limitation in developing fishing as a sport. Is it impossible to set up a coaching clinic system? Not in my view, although it’s

base the equivalent of two states of fishers. The difference is the peak body is able to offer a public face at the highest levels, a spectacle that shows off the best athletes and the public good of co-ordinating the grassroots. Fishing offers none of that. I have great sympathy for the challenges the sponsors have. Increasingly we are being asked to help out with promotion and I can see why. HOBIE WORLDS AND BERKLEY SUPERSERIES Speaking of spectacle, the Hobie Worlds and Berkley Superseries gave us the chance to work closely with Nicholle Smith and Steve Morgan on livestreaming. We developed the plugin content that shows scores and stats during the live feed, which makes it easier to contextualise what is going on. Steve and Nicholle did a brilliant job on the Hobie Worlds, putting on a show that was compelling and enjoyable. I think they not only did themselves proud, but put a professional face to a sport that

Fig.1. Participation in fishing based on Fisheries Queensland surveys. official sport, often as a means of funding something. Personally I think that’s an idea long overdue pursuing, as I have seen first-hand some terrifically skilled fishers that qualify to me under the term athlete. The challenge though is to work through the currently fragmented nature of fishing competitions and consider how you could build a network. Another interesting stat out recently in Queensland was an uptick in the number of fishers. After a decade of serious decline, fishing didn’t just rebound, it’s back to levels not seen since the mid 1990s. I think there is a couple of reasons for that. Firstly, there is a generational change: Gen X was a much smaller group overall so was never going to replenish the stocks of new fishers, while the millennial generation numbers as a group are much closer in numbers to the baby boomers. Second, we have seen the rise of larger retail chains that more visibly promote fishing. Lastly, it is one of the few ‘sports’ left that recognises an angler’s achievements. Even for relatively unskilled fishers, catching a good fish will get

the process by which people come into the sport. Sports like the football codes, athletics, cricket have consistent rules, limitations on equipment and everyone plays on the same pitch. I can speak with expertise on the lack of standards for fishing, as I am the guy who gets to put together the scoring system. Our scoring engine has taken nearly two years to develop and every time I think I have all the bases covered, someone comes up with something new. Overall we have a crazy number of scoring arrangements, including 43 separate scoring algorithms, which breaks out into thousands of combinations once you consider species, fisher class, fishing categories (eg. kayak vs beach) and a range of bonus systems and even ways to resolve ties. THE DUCKWORTHLEWIS SYSTEM HAS NOTHING ON FISHING! Scoring is just the beginning. As we get around to a lot of events we get to see first-hand the variance in vessel capability, electronics and gear. Nobody is going to win bream series like the ABT or Berkley Super Series

VARIANCE IN FISHING COMPETITIONS Total Average no. Class of Event Total of Participants Club 1075 56.6 Community 5355 281.8 High End C&R 4611 164.7 Length Weigh in 222 37 Live Weigh in 1098 91.4 Photo Only 541 60.1 Traditional Weigh in 3684 736.8 66

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smaller geography on offer. At this point, I don’t think that fishing could really get much further away from standards. Fishing competitions regularly seek to provide a point of differentiation in attracting competitors, often through their scoring systems – i.e. the chance to win. Rather than providing a progression path to skill, competitions all too often work against each other. One area where standards are both possible and not too far away is the kayak segment. The equipment is relatively standardised, athleticism is rewarded and there is no easy way to gain an advantage other than skill. Having been involved with local kayak events and recently the Hobie Worlds, the level of difference is far less than most sports. IGFA also have a pretty consistent set of rules, though gamefishing is a far less accessible sport. Most sports have addressed this problem by providing a peak body that drives the standards, provides recognition and progression paths. I have been involved with many, and probably the

Fig.2. Comparison of categories by event type. why more don’t turn to coaches. In my experience competing in fishing isn’t just a skill thing, there are tactical elements and psychological elements as well. Fishers play mind games all the time. All high-powered athletes forge their own identity on the field but they don’t do it alone. Nobody is an expert in all areas of preparation and even if they are, nobody has a perfect view of the action. As an athlete, feedback, statistical assessment and a different point of view are important parts of problem solving. That is where coaches come in. At a lower level, coaches form the base for developing

VARIANCE IN FISHING COMPETITIONS Avg. Number of Class of Event Prize Categories Club 4.57894737 Community 7.95 High End C&R 3.67857143 Length Weigh in 2 Live Weigh in 2 Photo Only 2 Traditional Weigh in 25

challenging in some areas in terms of accessing a ‘playing field’. In the long run we have enough people who have the ability, and it’s probably funding that is the issue, which comes back to standards. The only way to get funding through the sports commission is to have a national body and standards. EVENTS NEED TO THINK ABOUT THEIR SPONSORS Another area where fishing probably falls short of other sports is in how they deal with sponsors. The lack of a formal structure and the plethora of fishing event styles means events are not just competing for participants they are competing for sponsorship dollars, often from smaller outlets and local businesses. More organised sports negotiate sponsorships at a peak body level and bring to bear the size of their base. Recent controversies in cricket over the number of participants should be noted by fishers – Cricket Australia has a playing

has been largely amateur in all respects. Steve and Nicholle took the presentation of fishing up a few notches and helped to provide useful insights into the skill and dedication of its participants. Not to mention – they made fishing fun, which is critical to growing an audience. You should check out the Hobie Worlds video on the Hobie Worlds Facebook page. There is still quite a lot of work to do on the waterside of the sport. Events like the Tour de France follow the action throughout the day, which can be done because the leaders all group together, but it’s much harder with fishing because everyone scatters. Then there is the limitations of mobile signals. Nonetheless, these are challenges that have to be overcome to deliver a product that will gain a wider audience. In the long run, audience is what delivers value to sponsors and funding for the sport. I think livestreaming has to be where the content/

g. een. Lift sides price e.

presentation of events is developed because it’s the cheapest medium that you can still create a professional product in. Unlike television, the potential livestreaming audience is not limited in format. WHAT’S THE SCALE OF THE FRAGMENTATION CHALLENGE? I wanted to put some actual data around the variance in fishing competitions. All up we have seven classifications for events we use at present: • High End C&R – competitions like the Barra Nationals that attract top fishers specifically for the prizes/recognition of skill for Catch and Release. • Community – open to general community, can have both high and lower skill fishers but the format is some form of catch and release. • Club – run specifically for members of a fishing club. Tends to have highly skilled fishers but focused on recognition within the club. • Live Weigh In – events like the ABT with fish stored in live wells, weighed at a central point then released. • Length Weigh In – Variant on the live weigh in where fish are measured. • Photo Only – Artistic or Glory photo competition. • Traditional Weigh in. I extracted a sample of the past twelve months of events

from our network that fitted that list. Note in the near future we will be doing offshore and gamefishing events which will add to the list above of variants. BREAKDOWN OF PARTICIPATION As TMF started out in high end events, that has been our staple but over the past six months community and club events have more and more been a part of the mix. We added Traditional Weigh Ins in March, so we have only run a small number of events there, so it has to be noted that the results for that class are likely skewed. It should also be noted that the Traditional Weigh Ins we

have participated in would be considered community events in terms of attendance. Nonetheless as you would expect typically community events are the most well attended, followed by High End. Of the Traditional Weigh Ins we have worked at though, there have been big numbers. This may be due to the fact that this format is dying off and so people rally around the fewer events that are out there. The more important takeaway from my point of view is just how fragmented the tournament scene is and in the long run I don’t think that’s sustainable. EVENT CATEGORIES Another measure we have of these groups is

event categories, i.e. how many prize categories are on offer. This analysis excludes one common category – random draw/ random length as these are essentially raffles by another name. Having said that, I would say on experience that almost all community events, and even many high end events have some form of random prize. As a rule, the more serious the competitions the less categories are on offer, with a greater emphasis on placings and prizes for placings. In my mind that’s a good thing from a sports perspective, though in most sports placings rarely are considered past third from an official perspective.

Fig.3. Comparison of participation in event categories.

The more interesting breakdown comes in how those categories are assessed. While there are an endless variety of systems, the number of fish is the dominant feature of all systems with three common formats: Best Fish (single), Best Bag (fixed number of fish), Open (number of fish). Overwhelmingly single fish categories dominate when considering the number of categories on offer. The one surprising value for me though was that the bag format was more common in high-end events that are unlimited. That is a great example of the mind playing tricks on me, because my perception from on the ground was the complete opposite. The first measure was looking at how many categories are on offer – but how about participation in those categories? As there is more single fish categories on offer, you would expect those to dominate. Against expectation, while they do at the community/traditional weigh in level, they don’t in almost all other event types. That suggests to me that in the more sports events fishers prefer to focus on categories with numbers. The unexpected takeaway is bags dominate in terms of participation at the sports level in events we work with.

MOVING FORWARD If fishing is to move forward we have to pick a set of rules, have a better system for bringing in people, provide a centrepiece for the best fishers and a peak body capable of negotiating not just with government but sponsors as well. The real question though – is it time? My personal answer, almost certainly! The era of the sole amateur is going away in most sports, and having seen the skills of fishers across the country, the time has come for proper official government accredited recognition of that skill. I would be first in line to do the scoring and be part of a national tournament series that takes juniors through the ranks to compete with the best the country has to offer. I have already done that for more than one sport and I would consider it the achievement of a lifetime to do it for fishing. Does that mean the traditional tournaments need to go away? I don’t think they ever will. There will always be a traditional fishery but there should be a choice for competitors on their progression path. What would that national sport look like? That is a question I have been thinking on for some time, but you will have to wait a month for the answer.

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SEPTEMBER 2019

BAIT & TACKLE

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This section in V&TFM Fishing Monthly consolidates the trades and services in your area that are relevant to your fishing and boating. Whether you’re a local looking for more options or a travelling angler fishing around the state, this guide will direct you to reputable businesses in the area you’re searching. 68

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Advertisers wanting to be involved in this directory can call (07) 3387 0800 or email pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au SEPTEMBER 2019

FUN PAGE AND COMPETITIONS AUSTRALIA’S TOP FISHING LOCATIONS

CAIRNS CAPE YORK HERVEY BAY PORT STEPHENS PORT LINCOLN GIPPSLAND LAKE JINDABYNE GREAT BARRIER REEF WHITSUNDAYS MURRAY RIVER SYDNEY HARBOUR

DTD - REAL FISH OITA

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Name: Address:

P/Code:

The first correct entry at the end of each month will win the prize pack. SEND ENTRIES TO: VIC Find-a-word Competition, PO box 3172, Loganholme Qld 4129

VIC SEPTEMBER 2019

Phone (day):

GEORGE & NEV by Michael Hardy

The ‘Real Fish Oita’ is an incredible, award winning squid jig manufactured in Europe by leading Croatian company - DTD. Taking out the coveted ‘best new product’ in its class at the EFTTEX 2015 Expo in Warsaw, this wonderful range is now available in Australia through Dogtooth Distribution. The product imitates real fish species. This coupled with DTD’s use of only the highest grade materials available, ensures great balance and results in superior catching ability. With the unique ‘fish parasite’ feature, aimed at luring predators in for an ‘easy kill’, these truly unique jigs are set to explode into the Australian market. FEATURES - Double weight system with inner weight designed to produce sound while squid jig is in action. COLOURS - 7 different designs representing popular fish species. ADDITIONAL - Luminous body, fish parasite, great balance, sound effect, quality stainless steel hooks SIZES - 5 Sizes available www.dogtoothdistribution.com.au

SPOT THE

10 DIFFERENCES

FINS SCALES & TALES by A. Both

ORIGINAL

FIND-A-WORD

Congratulations to B Delphine, who was last month’s winner of the Find-aWord Competition! Monthly winners receive a Fishing Monthly prize pack. Prize delivery can take 8 weeks. – V&TFM

SUBSCRIBER PRIZE

The subscriber prize winner for July is T Siddle of Tyers, who won a pair of Tonic Tango Sunglasses. All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – V&TFM

Clunes, L Milkins of Wonthaggi, B Bell of Wodonga, T Gillett of Portarlington, P Gigliotti of Coburg North, R Shrimpton of Rosebud, G Easterbrook of Tootgarook, D Hill of Cranbourne North, M Miller of Euroa, B Schnitzer of Cooma, J Thomas of Broadford, J Drummond of Moe, R Drendel of Mount Helen, M De Voigt of Moe, D Robinson of Carisbrook, M Stevens of

Alfredton, C Hale of Sorell, R Coombes of Vermont, S Brightwell of Mordialloc, W Johnson of Morwell, G Smith of Stawell, R Price of Mildura, K Dowell of Highton, H Siesmaa of Ferntree Gully, D Biggs of Sale, J Peeters of Colac, G Thomson of North Garlong, G Bell of Mernda, M Koumanidis of Knoxfield. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – V&TFM

LAST MONTH’S ANSWERS

FIND THE DAIWA LOGO

SEPTEMBER 2019

GUESS THE FISH?

This month’s Guess the Fish Answer: Chinaman Fish

The answers to Find the Daiwa Logo for July were: 8, 14, 19, 26, 28, 29, 35, 36, 39, 44, 48, 54, 57, 75, 80. – V&TFM The Find the Daiwa Logo prize winners for July were: J McNamara of Goornong, K Tripp of Glenroy, C Smith of Traralgon, J Smith of Carranballac, G Finco of Sunshine West, A Melis of Reservoir, A Pollard of Darley, J Ellis of Reservior, W Henley of Park Orchards, P Cobb of Berrigan, M Pearce of Devonport, J Morrison of

Answer:

boats & kayaks

In the skipperâ€™s seat

Inside story...

After WWII, the pace of life changed as a war-ravaged world now craved speed and excitement. This era saw enterprising young businessman Jim Whittley who, along with his brother Ossie, indulged a love of boating. In 1953, Jim produced his first timber boat out of a small shop in the Melbourne suburb of Bulleen. In the late 1960s they made the switch to fibreglass, and have been moving forward ever since.

Made for...

Whittley balances traditional core boating values with constant improvement and delivers on that original promise of quality and innovation.

This month...

Steve Morgan compares two much-loved Whittley hulls now re-powered with Yamaha outboards! Check it out on page 80.

72 To SUP or kayak? Justin Willmer looks at the tough decision of whether to SUP or kayak when you need to scratch the itch!

74 Used boat knowledge

Wayne Kampe draws upon his years of experience, and details some things to look out for when buying a used boat.

78 Aquamaster 530 HC with Suzuki 140hp Editor Steve Morgan takes a ride in this Aussie-built fishing machine on a glorious day!

FEBRUARY 2019

Aquamaster 530 Half Cabin with Suzuki 140hp - SC

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PERFORMANCE RPM......Speed (km/h)............ Economy (km/L) 700............................4.................................. 4.0 1000..........................7.................................. 4.2 2000........................ 11.................................. 2.8 3000........................ 23.................................. 2.8 3500........................ 31.................................. 3.1 4000........................ 38.................................. 2.8 4500........................ 46.................................. 2.7 5000........................ 51.................................. 2.3 6000........................ 61.................................. 1.6 6500........................ 66.................................. 1.3 78

SEPTEMBER 2019

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Aquamaster are South East Queensland’s quiet achiever when it comes to aluminium boats. Established nearly 30 years ago, they’ve been quietly going about their business hand-making dependable hulls south of Brisbane. Anyone remembering the start of ABT’s BASS Pro series may remember that the inaugural BASS Angler of the Year (Brett Thomson, 1999, 2000) fished from a custom built Aquamaster punt. It showed that at the time, these guys were willing to listen and that’s what’s kept them in business for so long. The boat we tested here, however, is about as far from a bass punt as you can get. The 5.3m half cab is one of four half cabins in the range that vary from 5-6m in length in the Aquamaster range. With a roomy cabin and plenty of cockpit space, it’s right in the middle of the zone of craft that are great for taking the family cruising, yet still have the ability to do an

bases with inbuilt storage, the cavernous areas under the bunks and the optional transom door, which make it easier for boarding both on

s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

overnighter on the bay with a mate or two. Rod Elliott is Queensland’s only Aquamaster dealer, and he happily took us for a ride on Moreton Bay in the 5.3m version. “Aquamasters feature a fully welded hull, which means that they are basically trouble and warranty free from a dealer point of view,” said Rod when explaining the ethos of the brand. “You’ll also notice the upswept bow, which is a feature that Aquamaster boats have had for years. You’ll see more and more competitive brands agreeing that this is both good looking and practical.” Arriving on a single-axle trailer, the rig will tow behind most family vehicles. You’ll rarely see an Aussie rig more than 1.5 tonnes supplied on a single axle trailer. Fitted with Australian Marine Centre’s own test outboard (a 140hp Suzuki), we set off on a day on Moreton Bay that was way too calm for rough water boat testing. As such, we can report that it rides very nicely on calm water, if a little sensitive

Steve Morgan

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the transom door. Priced from mid to high $40,000s, you can check out this Aquamaster and others in the range by visiting their

SPECIFICATIONS

Main: Aquamaster may not be the most well known brand of boat, but they have been built in South East Queensland for the last 30 years, and their upswept bow design has become popular amongst many of the brands over the last decade. There are several half cab models in their range. Above: Powered by a 140hp Suzuki 4-stroke, the 530 maxed out at 66km/h and 6,500rpm. to internal weight changes. With all crew on one side underway, the hull would lean while at cruising speeds. Performance wise, the Suzuki delivered exactly what we expected – a very economical ride with a real sweet spot at 3,500rpm where several repeats in the test showed a spike in economy to 3.1km/L. At those revs it was cruising at 31km/h. Wide open, expect 66km/h at 6,500rpm at a significantly more thirsty rate. That speed yielded only 1.3km/L. With 100L of underfloor fuel, best economy gives this rig a theoretical range of over 250km. As far as levels of fit-out go, this is a reasonably basic package at a price to match. Noteworthy are the seat

Length.........................................................5.3m Beam...........................................................2.3m Hull weight............................................... 580kg Depth..........................................................1.1m Fuel............................................................. 110L Min HP............................................................70 Max HP......................................................... 140 Bottom sheet.............................................3mm Side sheet...................................................3mm Capacity............................................. 6 persons and off the trailer. The rear lounge is folding and fills two thirds of the transom, leaving a space for boarding through

website at www.aquamaster. com.au. Alternatively, you can like their Facebook page at Aquamaster Alloy Boats and stay up to date.

The guys from Australian Marine Centre checking out the wreck of the Platypus at Peel Island. The 530 is ideal for family cruising around the bay as well as dropping a line.

Left: 140 is the maximum horsepower rating for this boat, and the big Suzuki did the job with ease. It delivered over 3.1km/L at the most economical cruising speed at 3,500rpm. Top Right: Queenslanders love pulling up anchor by hand and the for’ard hatch and built-in anchor well allows this to happen as easily as possible. Below Right: Standard side pockets eat up all of the gear that needs to be easily accessible.

The soft top is long enough to cover the travelling positions for the driver and passenger, and the side clears keep the rest of the weather out.

Left: Both seat bases feature plenty of internal storage. Right: The front hatch is well sealed and will handle some rough weather, even if the family won’t.

There’s plenty of cockpit space in the back with a foldable rear lounge that can be tucked away when the fishing starts.

The shop boat demo motor was well worn in and offered the type of fuel economy that Suzuki owners have come to expect. Its sweet spot was at 3,500rpm.

Under the cabin side bunks there’s a mountain of storage for items that should be kept dry.

The cabin is deceptively large for a 5.3m half-cab boat.

The transom door is a popular option for getting in and out of the boat.

The helm is simple and there’s a lot of room to mount electronics on brackets on top of the dash. SEPTEMBER 2019

Whittley 2080 vs 2180, powered by Yamaha

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T s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

Head-to-head tests are pretty popular in Fishing Monthly magazines – whether it’s a Daiwa Exceler versus a Sol or a 15hp 2-stroke versus 4-stroke, these tests often mirror what we all go through when purchasing a product, the costs versus the benefits. In fact our 15hp 2S v 4S video is the most popular we’ve published on YouTube

released versions of their trailerable cruisers to allow that choice. We were lucky enough to be able to do some head-to-head comparisons with the guys from Northside Marine in Brisbane. They’re a Yamaha and long-term Whittley dealer on the north side of town. The models available were the 2080 and 2180. There’s only a foot of difference in length but they’re a world apart in price. Does the price difference really match the features and functionality? The 2080

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2080

2180

Both of these hulls have a maximum hp rating of 150, although the 2080 is usually fitted with a 115 and the 2180 with a 130. This saves a little in original purchase price and running costs. SPECIFICATIONS Model............................................2080. Length.Overall...........................6.60m Beam..........................................2.20m Deadrise .........................................19° Fuel .............................................. 110L Water..............................................40L Max.hp ........................................... 150 Dry.two.weight.......................1,700kg As.tested ................................$68,500

Main: Don’t stress, this is a photoshopped image, but this test pots the Whittley 2080 and 2180 cruisers head-to-head. There’s a big difference in price, but is there a similar difference in features? Above: On the trailer, there’s a quarter-ton difference, but both boats are towable by any twin-cab ute. with nearly 300,000 views at the time of writing. Recently, Whittley boat have embraced the popularity of outboard motors and have

package weighs in at $68,500 while the 2180 takes $91,000 to drive away. Northside’s Dave Choveaux spends his

2080

days selling these boats and helped to explain the differences. “There’s definitely more standard features in the 2180,” Dave says, “but this boat has a higher cabin, bigger beam and more comforts for a bigger family.” Indeed, after a day on the water, my inclination

2180 6.62m 2.35m 19° 110L 40L 150 1,950kg $91,000

was to lean towards the 2080 being a great weekender for a couple and the 2180 being more suited to a family with kids. Both offer the cabin and shade and creature comforts that you need for extended periods on the water and the duckboard setup on both allow for easy access to the

water while at anchor or on the trailer. “Nearly all of the outboard Whittleys we sell don’t fit maximum horsepower,” Dave says. “The 115 is a great match for the 2080 while the 2180 usually rolls out with a 130 Yamaha on the back.” Yamaha’s Will Lee was on hand to offer his take on the outboard selection. “Even though these outboards are built on the same 1.8L block, they’re the right outboards for these boats,” said Will. And the performance numbers back this up. Performance figures mirror these claims. Both rigs are economical, delivering around 2.5km/L at 4,000rpm and cruising in the low 40km/L at these levels.

2180

PERFORMANCE 2080/2180 RPM...........Speed.(km/h)....... Economy.(km/L) ................................2080/2180....................................2080/2180 1000 .....................6.8/6.8........................3.5/3.0 2000................. 11.5/11.3....................... 2.1/2.1 3000.................21.8/20.3........................1.9/1.6 4000.................42.4/41.2........................2.5/2.3 5000.................55.1/54.8........................2.1/1.8 6000................. 68.4/67.5........................1.6/1.4 80

SEPTEMBER 2019

Both cruisers kick along at wide-open throttle and both have best economy in the 4,000rpm range in the low 40km/h.

Despite the differences in horsepower, there’s very similar top end speeds, which are in the high 60s. Couple this with a 110L fuel tank and there’s well over 200km of theoretical range to get out and enjoy the marine environment. On the trailer, there’s a 250kg difference between the rigs, which is not enough to require a different tow vehicle. Both are able to tow with a twin-cab ute or large family car, and offer easy, drive on/off launching for a two-person team. You can see the ease of this on the video we produced on the test day. You can see it on the Fishing

2080

2180

The 2180 is a little beamier and more stable than the 2080. A little bit of beam does equate to more room in the cabin, especially with the higher top deck in the 2180.

2080

2180

Our model @adogg11 reckons that they’re both OK for a bit of cabin-top sunbathing. 2080

2080

2180

Both boats have a 19° transom deadrise, providing a decent balance between soft ride and stability. Unfortunately the test day didn’t test the choppy water abilities of this hull.

The 2080 has a more enclosed cabin with a passenger dash, where the 2180 has a slide-across curtain for privacy. The helm layout is similar for both craft.

Monthly Magazines YouTube channel or by scanning the QR code at the top of this test on your smartphone and it’ll take you straight to the video. Did we get to test the rough water ability of these boats? Nope. The test day was way too calm to do that. We rafted up in the middle of Moreton Bay to shoot the video closers. What we did get to do, though, is spend some quality, good weather time in a pair of boats that offer a great way to experience your local waterways. Is it important to have 25-knot abilities? Maybe not. Not too many families want to go out in those conditions anyway. And if you’re after a serious fishing Whittley, maybe the Sea Legend is a better choice for you. Regardless, what’s our bottom line? We think that the 2080 is the boat for you if you’re on a budget and the 2180 is the boat for you if you appreciate the little luxuries and want a little more space. Remember that the 2180 has a lot of standard inclusions. For more information visit www. whittley marinegroup. com. au, or like Whittley on Facebook for their latest updates. You can also scan the QR code hereby to see this boat in action on the test day. SEPTEMBER 2019

2080

2180

Both boats feature a deck that smoothly declines into the cabin with no steps. The 2180 cabin is definitely more open and airy.

Both boats feature seating each side of the engine well. Cabin clears are optional on the smaller boat but standard on the 2180. Both feature a fold-out table.

2080

2180

Thereâ€™s definitely more cabin space in the 2180. Itâ€™s a simple function of increased beam and headroom. 82

SEPTEMBER 2019

Both hulls fit the Yamahas nicely with flotation in the duckboards adding extra stability. Both hulls can run a 150hp if needed.

What everyone loves about a Whittley trailerable cruiser is the extras. There are sinks, fresh water and areas for cooking that help to make these rigs the ultimate comfortable weekender.

NEW COAST TOURER EDITIONS NEW MODEL

SL 20

318p/w* Indicative

RELEASES FROM

YAMAHA F 130 MACKAY DUAL AXLE TRAILER

487p/w* Indicative

SL 22

HARD TOP YAMAHA F 150 MACKAY DUAL AXLE TRAILER

674p/w* Indicative

SL 25

HARD TOP

YAMAHA F 200 MACKAY DUAL AXLE TRAILER NEW SLIDING LOCKABLE CABIN DOOR

CALL (03) 8339 1800 OR VISIT THE FACTORY AND SHOWROOM AT 12-14 SOMERTON PARK DRIVE, CAMPBELLFIELD Indicative Interest rate

Comparison Interest rate

7.44% 7.99%

MAKING MEMORIES SINCE 1953 “ Repayment amount shown is the weekly equivalent of the monthly instalment of (a) $1,376 (b) $2,109 (c) $2,919. It is indicative only and is calculated based on an interest rate of 7.44% p.a. (Comparison Rate 7.99% p.a.), Package price of (a) $69,990 (b) $107,990 (c) $149,990, less a deposit of (a) $13,998 (b) $21,598 (c) $29,998 and 48 instalments in arrears with a final balloon payment of $0 and an application fee of $395. Interest rate used is based on an average individual credit rating and meeting mandatory credit criteria. Repayments and interest rate may vary depending on your individual circumstances, financial position, credit rating, information provided, loan amount and loan term. Offer valid until 31/08/2019. Comparison rate is based on a 5-year secured fixed rate consumer loan of $30,000. WARNING: The Comparison Rate is true only for the example given and may not include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts might result in a different comparison rate. Credit criteria, fees, charges, terms and conditions apply. Yamaha Motor Finance Aust. Pty Ltd. ABN 29 101 928 670. Australian Credit Licence 394553” SEPTEMBER 2019