Western Australia Fishing Monthly August 2019 by Fishing Monthly

FATHERS’ DAY GIFT GUIDE INSIDE

Features A heads up on sounders • Sporting life of the humble herring • Latest freshwater stocking news •

NEW FIND THE LOGO COMPETITION SEE INSIDE

Boating & Kayaking Kayaking the shallows • Guide to buying a boat • Stessco Amberjack 520 with Yamaha F90hp •

August, 2019 ISSN: 2209-3354

Fishing Monthly G R O U P

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August 2019, Vol. 1 No. 12

Contents 6

METRO

Metro 11 Metro Offshore

SOUTH COAST Esperance 14 Bremer Bay

Albany 15 WEST COAST Augusta 16 Busselton 18 Bunbury 20 Mandurah 22 Lancelin 24 Jurien Bay

Geraldton 26 GASCOYNE COAST Kalbarri 29

From the Editor’s Desk... If you thought winter would never end, well we are almost there. As always the winter weather has the fishing around the state going off. As is the case every year, more people are inclined to head north rather than south for obvious reasons. However, the fishing on the South Coast is also going nuts, although the great fishing in Broome sounds like a much more attractive option! That being said, if you are unable to get away, there is still some sensational fishing to be had in the weather breaks in the metro area. Freshwater fishing is getting ready to take off, with plenty of waters already starting to fish pretty well. Redfin perch are easy pickings once you get onto a school and offer great eating as well as some epic scenery while fishing for

them. If you have never given it a go, maybe this year is the year to try! Recfishwest is running their yearly Troutfest on 31 August, which is always a great day out, and also a great way to learn enough about the freshwater to hopefully get you and the kids worked up for a couple of

freshwater fishing sessions! For more info check out the Recfishwest column in the mag or head to their website for up to date info. At this time of the year it is wise to start thinking about the season ahead, so get your boats ready for the warmer weather and get it in for its yearly service now while the

Exmouth 30

Ian Sewell boatyards are still relatively quiet. Leaving it until later will only have you waiting a week or two for servicing. As always, inspect all of your safety gear to be sure it is in serviceable condition and that flares and EPIRBS are in date. Next month is the Perth Boat Show, so start saving now for the great show specials that are always on offer! As always if you missed an issue you can catch up on previous issues for free on www.issuu.com/ fishingmonthly or you can get a digital subscription so that you never miss an issue again at www.isubscribe. com.au and go to the fishing section. As we wear down the last month of winter and welcome spring, I hope you all get a chance to get out on the water and enjoy some of the best fishing of the year.

NORTH COAST Broome 32 Dampier/Karratha 34 36

Fun Page

Recfishwest 35 Tech Tricks

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Trade and Services Guide

What’s new fishing

What’s new boating

SPECIAL FEATURES Father’s Day Gift Guide

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Western Australia Fishing Monthly magazine goes on sale the last week of each preceding month (latest sale date 31st of the month).

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Lancelin writer Peter Fullarton nailed this 15kg Spaniard slow trolling a blue mackerel bait.

AUGUST 2019

Publishers: Steve Morgan Matthew Drinkall

Distribution: Gordon & Gotch Pty Ltd

OUR OUR COVER COVER

AUST

Herring tips, tricks and rigs

Sub-Editors: Bob Thornton Nicole Penfold Lucette Eggleton

Production: Keith Hawley Karen Millward

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ION

SINCE 2018

Kayak fishing

WESTERN AUSTRALIA FISHING MONTHLY

Boating 54

Back to Basics

REGULAR FEATURES

PRO

FRESHWATER

ING TRADE

“Where pride is the difference”

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Herring

The sporting life of the humble WA herring LANCELIN

Peter Fullarton

The Australian herring (Arripis georgianus) is more commonly called herring or ‘hezzas’ in Western Australia, and known as Tommy ruff in other states. Although they grow to a smaller size than their sportfish cousin the Australian salmon, they still have attributes of a sportfish, being an aggressive hunter that readily takes lures.

and head rattling jumps as they attempt to shake free the hooks, often successfully. They are an ideal species to teach children the technical aspects of angling, and help give them a whole lot of fun in the process. Some of the techniques needed to land a hezzas are no different to other more iconic sportfish such as barramundi. Many skilled anglers spent their youth honing their skills on the local jetty with herring. Herring are found nearshore or in protected waters, so they are a perfect

a rock wall, do yourself a favour and go out and buy a appropriate light outfit to chase them with. Light tackle will allow the fish to show you how much fun they can be. On light gear they will use their body side on to make it difficult to pull them in, and if they get their head around they will make lunges, pulling some string before doing some tail-walking head-shaking leaps in an attempt to throw the hooks. A perfect outfit is a 2-4kg rated fishing rod with

large enough to shake the hook free. The soft tip rod makes it less likely to tear a hole and the spring in the tip helps keep the line tight

berley sparingly once you have the herring interested, otherwise they will gorge themselves and go off the bite.

make your own by mincing or boiling up fish frames and mixing them with some fish oil. Another alternative berley is powdered milk. It

Small metal slice lures are very effective when trolled or cast for herring. during those head-shaking jumps. Line of this strength has plenty of guts to handle any herring and gives you a good battle if a larger skippy or tailor takes a bait. A short 2m rod is perfect for fishing from boats and piers. On rock walls you will be better off with a larger

You can buy cage berley mixes in tackle stores that can have extra flavouring, like aniseed and shrimp meal. These are mixed with a little seawater to make a paste consistency that will hold in the cage. I recommend you add some fish oil in the mix as well. Alternatively

keeps the fish interested but gives them nothing to eat, so they don’t lose interest in the bait, which sometimes can happen when the fish start eating the berley. The fine powder is best applied when you have the wind behind you, so it is perfect for sitting on anchor in a boat.

One misconception is that herring are solely surface feeders, but herring will feed off the bottom and can easily be caught from the beach using sinkers. They are quite athletic for their size, putting up a good fight on correctly matched gear. They can be a challenge to land, with strong lunges

target for land-based anglers or the trailer boat community. GEARING UP Whether you fish from boat, beach, pier or

a soft tip and a nice little 2500 spinning reel spooled with some 2-4kg line. Herring have soft mouths and can quickly tear a hole

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AUGUST 2019

Herring are aggressive feeders, and are ideal for lure casting. 3-3.5m rod to help lift fish clear of the rocks and on a surf beach you may need to keep the line clear of the breakers. Using berley is very important for herring fishing. The fish travel in schools, so if you can keep a school interested you should be able to catch a good number of fish. Cages and floats can be used to dispense the berley right where the bait is. Use

you can just use a straight pollard, water and fish oil as your berley. When fishing from a boat you can use a berley basket and hang a rag soaked in fish oil over the side. It saves having to use any berley within the rig, keeps your hands clean and gives a more direct fight with the fish. The best berley for a basket would be storebought pellets, or you can

RIGS Herring mainly feed mid-water, although they will take baits and lures from the surface or off the bottom, so a range of rigs will work depending on the situation. To help stop the fish throwing the hook, I recommend using a no. 2-1 circle style hook. It may look a bit big for the size of the fish, but herring do have a pretty big mouth for their size.

Herring Herring can be very aggressive and active feeders, but at other times they can be frustratingly fussy. This is why I use a light 3kg fluorocarbon leader just in case they decide to be difficult on the day. Rigging the hook with a short length of thin lumo tube will help attract bites, and often the

fish will still take the hook even after the bait is gone. Winding in slowly may help too, as often moving baits will get more bites than stationary ones. In a boat, when the berley is in a basket, a simple swivel from the mainline to a leader of 3kg fluorocarbon direct to the hook is all you

need to get amongst them. You should be able to flick the bait with a little wind assistance 4-5m away from the boat where the fish will be less timid. Just remember to give it enough slack to sink a little, before starting a slow wind of the reel. The swivel should be enough weight, however if the boat is moving

A big eye makes herring an effective low light hunter, so dawn, dusk and moonlit nights are all prime times to chase them.

There are three ways to deliver berley when casting off a surf beach: an unweighted cage, a weighted cage, or a berley blob.

around a lot in the breeze, or if there is some current, you may need to add a little split shot to get it to sink correctly. Alternatively, you can use a float to keep the bait suspended a meter from the surface. When fishing a pier or rock wall I would use a berley float with a 1-1.5m leader to the bait or a berley

cage with a shorter 50cm leader. If using a float, cast out and watch to keep the line with as little slack in it as possible to be ready when the float sinks, indicating a hook up. When using a cage, cast out and allow it to sink a meter or two and start to slowly wind in. If beach fishing, you can use the berley float rig with

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offshore conditions, if there is not too much swell. With an onshore breeze or with lots of shore surge, use a paternoster style rig with a berly cage sinker. Donâ€™t worry about the bait being near the bottom, as the herring will follow the berley down and you wonâ€™t catch any less fish than a float rig would. To page 8

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WHAT’S NEW FISHING ZEREK ABSOLUTE SHRIMP

Pre-rigged on a weighted hook and designed to be retrieved like a fleeing shrimp, the Zerek Absolute Shrimp features a tough TPE body that has a one-piece tail that is tear and puncture resistant, yet still supple enough to provide an enticing action. Able to be swum with a fish-attracting pulse of the rod tip, or sunk through the water column into the fish’s face, the Absolute Shrimp responds equally well to subtle rod work or stronger rips and shakes. This lure even performs on a straight retrieve, with its legs and tail swaying and pulsing throughout the retrieve. There are three sizes in the range, a 3”, 3.5” and a 4.5” model, covering a very broad list of target species. The 3” version weighs in at 9g and features a 1/0 hook, while the 3.5” weighs 11g and has a 2/0 hook. The 4.5” Absolute Shrimp weighs an easy casting 20g and features a 3/0 hook. There are 10 colour patterns in the range, including bright UV-enhanced colours along with some ultra-realistic patterns, and they are ready to be fished straight from the box! www.wilsonfishing.com

DAIWA AIRD LT

Proving that gold medal performance doesn’t have to cost the world, the Aird LT will have you on the path to angling glory. Combining many of Daiwa best designs, including LT Concept and Tough Digigear, the Aird LT performs as well as it looks, and looks as good as it’s designed. Ultimate line control is delivered by two of Daiwa’s best technologies, with Twistbuster and Long Cast ABS combining for unequalled casting performance and line control on the retrieve, while Daiwa’s innovative Air Rotor adds high level design and performance with its precision engineered construction enhancing rotor balance, strength and sensitivity. A Carbon Light Body, EVA Knob, and ATD drag complete the long list of features and prove that you can indeed get superior performance without the premium price tag. The Daiwa Aird LT is available in six sizes from 2000 to 6000. www.daiwafishing.com.au

NEW STRIKE PRO VIBE COLOURS

Strike Pro has released three new colours in its popular range of Cyber Vibe 35 and 40 lures, and two new colours in the Micro Vibe range. The new Cyber Vibe has three tow points and two rear hook points, giving the lure up to six different actions! This gives the Cyber Vibe more diversity than its competitors. The Cyber Vibe comes in 35mm (4.6g) and 40mm (6.6g) sizes, and these lures have become highly popular with competition and recreational anglers alike. They are very easy to use and create a great vibration on a small lift and hop retrieve. They are deadly on bream, mulloway, flathead, estuary perch, bass and redfin. The Micro Vibe is a miniature vibe lure that has become a favourite amongst bream anglers, in particular when fishing around structure such as piers, jetties, boat moorings and boat hulls. It is perfectly weight balanced and has a shimmy action on drop and lift and sits head down, tail up on the bottom. It is particularly effective when the fish have shut down or become fickle. www.jurofishing.com 38

AUGUST 2019

PRODUCT GUIDE

NEW SAMURAI REACTION RODS

The Samurai Reaction is where it all started – a premium rod range combined all the best components with new, cutting-edge build techniques. Multiple successful rod ranges later, and Samurai have circled back to their eponymous rod range. The Reaction stable has been expanded with two new models that fill those little gaps within the range. The first is the RE-151 (7’4”, 2-6lb Extra Fast), and the other is the RE-212 (6’5”, 3-8lb Fast Action), which is perfectly suited to working light surface lures. Both models feature a triple layer, machinerolled carbon blank, hot press baked to deliver a precise rod with no imperfections along its length. It is combined with totally new Carbon/ Duralon grip assembly called CD6 Grip Control that stiffens the butt end of the rod, providing enhanced sensitivity and exceptional balance. The carbon quad Axial integrated blank wrap reduces torsion twist and results in a greater strength to weight ratio. It provides a crisp feel where the slightest flick of the line is transferred down the rod to the angler. The rods employ class-leading Fuji Titanium Silicon Carbide guides, and the matt black finish provides an understated premium appearance. www.samurairods.com.au

JIG STAR BAGS AND GLOVES

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

The Jig Star brand evolved after its founder and acclaimed jigging expert Chris Wong in NZ had spent many years jigging with some of the most renowned big fish anglers from all over the world. Hundreds of hours were spent testing products to the absolute limit. Two of the latest releases from Jig Star are the Jig Bag and Jigging Gloves. The Jig Bag is the ideal way to transport deepwater jigs. This easy to carry briefcase-style bag is marine proof, and easy to clean and rinse. It has 17 long pockets for jigs up to 38cm, 10 short pockets for jigs up to 21cm, and two front accessories pockets. Jig Star Fishing Gloves have been designed by jigging and topwater experts. These gloves feature fast-drying synthetic microfibre materials which deliver outstanding wear, comfort and protection. Special attention is paid to reinforcement to thumb, forefinger and palm areas. Available sizes are M, L, XL, XXL in blue/ black or red/black. www.jurofishing.com

STORM TRICK TAIL MINNOW

A great choice for classic, soft jerkbaitstyle fishing, the Storm 360GT° Coastal Trick Tail Minnow rigged on a worm hook will glide and change direction like a fleeing baitfish. On the pause, the Trick Tail’s whole body rocks and its tail wiggles as it descends. You can remove the tail webbing to increase the amount of tail wiggle on the fall. Rigged on a jighead, the Trick Tail Minnow works particularly well for probing the bottom and fishing with a lift-and-drop technique. The Storm 360GT° Trick Tail Minnow is 5” long and comes in a pack of seven. It is currently available in eight colour patterns: chartreuse pearl pepper, cayenne gold, electric chicken, gold glow, kickin’ chicken, pilchard, pearl and silver mullet. It has back and belly slots for easy rigging and maximising the hook gap. www.stormfishing.com.au

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PRODUCT GUIDE

WHAT’S NEW FISHING

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

ZEREK AWAKE

Wilson Fishing has announced the release of the Zerek Awake, a double-jointed swimbait measuring 160mm and is an easy casting 42g. This floating swimbait can be worked in the surface, or retrieved a little faster to get it to dive to approximately 0.5m. This ability to be worked at two levels gives the angler a versatility that is difficult to find in other wakebaits, allowing real coverage of the water in multiple ways. Equipped with 4x strong trebles and with a body constructed from tough ABS plastic, the Awake forms part of the new Zerek Evolution series of lures – the next step for Zerek. Check out Zerek Australia on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ZerekAustralia) to see all the latest releases, catch photos and videos. You can also find more information on the Wilson Fishing website. www.wilsonfishing.com

The Storm 360GT° Coastal Manta Tail has a baitfish profile with a lively tapered tail, and it has a slow rocking action on the fall. You can rig the 360GT Coastal Manta Tail with a weighted worm hook and give it some twitches to make it change direction like a panicked baitfish. Stop the retrieve and let the Manta Tail glide to the bottom as the body rocks and the tail wiggles as it falls. When targeting deep weed pockets you can rig a Manta Tail on a jighead and let it rest on the bottom, where the quivering tail action will entice even the most cautious of fish. 360GT Manta Tails are available in two sizes (4” and 5”) in packs of seven. There are eight colour patterns currently available: chartreuse pearl pepper, cayenne gold, electric chicken, gold glow, kickin’ chicken, pilchard, pearl and silver mullet. The body features belly and back slots for easy rigging, and to maximise the hook gap. www.stormfishing.com.au

SAMAKI RED EMPEROR SHIRT

DAIWA 5000 CERTATE LT

Samaki’s Red Emperor shirt stands out from the crowd. The rich colours throughout the reef are saturated in natural light, which enhances the detail of the fish. You can clearly see the red emperor’s detailed fins, wide mouth and watchful eye as it waits atop the coral, ready to inhale the Ecooda Live Shrimp as it travels by. The lightweight fabric is perfect for all outdoor elements, protecting you from the harsh sun with Samaki’s UPF50+ resistant technology. The soft touch 100% polyester material is comfortable on the body, and has the added feature of being breathable, keeping you cool and dry. Samaki designs are brought to you by Australian anglers who love to design Australian species. Red Emperor shirts are available in adult, youth and kids sizes, from a size 2 through to a 5XL, allowing the whole family to get in on the action and out onto the water. Price: SRP $59.95 (adults), $49.95 (kids) www.samaki.com.au

PLANO BRIGHT SERIES 11

STORM COASTAL MANTA TAIL

Plano’s new trio of brightly coloured tackle boxes can help any angler to organise their gear in a big way. These classic tray tackle boxes feature your choice of one, two or three shelves with a cantilever tray design that extends when opened to showcase the contents. A sturdy fold-down handle simplifies transport and storage while the brass-bailed latch tightly secures the lid, keeping items protected and organised. The smallest model is the 6211, which has one tray with 7-13 compartments. It’s idea for the novice angler storing an assortment of floats, hooks, sinkers and a few artificial lures. The bulk storage in the bottom can handle items such as soft plastics, sunscreen and pliers. The next size up is the 6221, which has two cantilever trays that feature 14-25 adjustable compartments, plus bulk storage at the bottom. The largest model, the 6231, has three trays with 22-34 adjustable compartments. www.jmgillies.com.au

The Certate LT line-up welcomes a new top dog to the family with the release of a 5000-sized model. Combining Daiwa’s most advanced technologies and designs to deliver anglers a reel with few peers, the foundation of the new Certate is its rock solid Monocoque body housing the Certate LT’s new super sized, ultra tough, machine-cut gears. Big on power and performance, the new 5000 Certate features 10 CRBBs, 12kg of drag, a large EVA knob for optimum cranking comfort and control, while its 295g weight keeps things light and nimble for a reel of its size to minimise angler fatigue and maximise rod and reel balance and performance. Daiwa’s new Long Cast ABS spool, Mag Seal, ATD drag, one-piece Air Bail, new Drag Knob, Perfect Line Stopper, Machined Aluminium Air Handle, and Air Rotor further enhances the reel’s list of features and combine to make the new 5000 Certate LT the ultimate lightweight, strong and precise workhorse. www.daiwafishing.com.au

BASSDAY BUN

The Bassday Bun is the latest addition to the expanding range of Bassday lures in Australia. Bassday’s surface lure collection features some of the finest fish catchers available, and now the team have added this sub-surface wakebait to the range. The Bun is a realistic beetle imitation. It is a floating, shallow running wakebait, designed to imitate a beetle in distress on top or just under the water’s surface. It has a wide wobble action and creates a large wake. This new lure will be dynamite on fish like bass, bream, estuary perch, jungle perch, sooty grunter, trout and anything else that eats a beetle. The Bassday Bun comes in eight colours, measures 30mm in length and weighs 4.5g. It casts well and accurately due to the tungsten weight, and will prove irresistible when beetles and abundant. To see more information on this and other new lures from Bassday, as well as catch photos, head to www.facebook.com/ BassdayAus. www.bassday.com.au

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

FATHERS DAY GUIDE NEW ATOMIC METALZ SIZES

HALCO 1 MAX 220

Atomic Metalz were launched years ago in a 35 and 40mm size. They became a hit with bream and bass anglers, and were used effectively by some teams to win events where the fish were holding deep. The lure’s effectiveness is down to the careful design and the speed at which the blade works, sending out a vibration that attracts nearby fish. The designers have also worked hard to ensure action at slow speeds. Across the entire range, all sizes swim confidently and perform with that fish-attracting vibration. With feedback from ambassadors, Atomic have added new larger sizes – 55mm, 80mm and 110mm – to cover the full breadth of inshore and offshore fishing as well as impoundments. Team ambassadors have caught bass, bream and threadfin salmon on the 55mm versions during testing, and coral trout and sweetlip when fished deep off the reefs. The models are 35mm (1/8oz), 40mm (1/4oz), 55mm (1/2oz), 80mm (1oz), 110mm (1.5oz), and they’re available in a slew of natural and striking colours. Price: from SRP $15.95 www.atomiclures.com.au

HOBIE LIFEJACKETS

If you love the sound of a reel screaming in agony as line pours off the spool, then Halco Tackle has developed the perfect lure for you in the Max 220. Halco has developed an ultra tough, sinking, bibless minnow that will get the attention of any XOS Wahoo and Mackerel, huge Tuna and other massive predators that lurk out in the deep blue. Capable of being trolled at very high speed (up to 20kt) like its smaller brothers, the lure features heavily reinforced side walls to resist punctures by the toothy brigade and able to withstand the incredible crushing pressure inflicted by the jaws of its intended victims. Halco rounded out the package by included their legendary ultra tough 7xx fish rings and Mustad 9/0 inline singles for great hook sets and the ultimate in holding potential. The lure is 220mm long, weighs 175g, and is designed for heavy trolling and jigging applications. If you are into fishing for the brutes of the ocean, look for the all new Max 220 at all good tackle outlets. Price: approx. $15 www.halcotackle.com

SHIMANO TRAVEL STORAGE

AUGUST 2019

EGILICIOUS SQUID JIGS

TACKLE CLUB

Shimano’s latest tackle storage range includes two new releases for anglers on the go – the Travel Wrap and Soft Back Pack. The Travel Wrap comes with a hard tackle tray and additional sleeves for soft plastic storage. This lightweight, minimal travel wrap can be filled in a variety of useful ways depending on the situation. The travel wrap also doubles as a minimal soft plastic wallet – the tray is removable and the mesh pocket can be used to store braid cutters, catch scent, leader, or any other tools essential for fishing. The Soft Tackle Back Pack has a versatile range of applications and features, which make it ideal for both diehard fishos and weekend warriors. With added benefits such as four included tackle trays, a heavy-duty mesh front compartment, hard sunglasses case, an elastic tool holder and drink pocket, this bag is sure to impress even the fussiest of anglers. Price: approx. $27-$99 www.shimanofish.com.au

Tackle Club is Australia’s favourite fishing subscription box, sending subscribers the best lures from the best brands from around the world. It’s a fun way to discover new lures while saving money. Each month you will get a variety of quality fishing products, with prices starting from $49.99 a month for over $80 worth of gear. There is also the option to purchase a gift subscription, with prices starting from $149.97 for a 3-month subscription. Tackle Club currently offers four boxes: an Estuary Box, Freshwater Bass & Yellowbelly Box, Cod Box, and a Freshwater Trout & Redfin box. Each box comes with 5-7 fishing products curated by experts, and contains 40%-60% more value than you pay, so you know you are getting a great deal. For all subscriptions there is free shipping, no lock-in contract and you can cancel at any time. You can also save 10% if you enter FISH10 at the checkout! To see our unboxing videos, search for ‘Fishing Monthly Tackle Club’ on YouTube. Price: from SRP $49.99 www.tackleclub.com.au

Why should Dad have to leave his best mate at home while he enjoys a day on the water? With the Hobie Pet PFD he can take his dog with him safely. Features include added flotation, grab handles, adjustable fit, leash attachment, side pockets, grab handles and soft foam undercarriage support. It’s available in a range of sizes, from XS (12lb, 8”-12” collar, 13”-17” body girth) right through to XL (90lb-120lb, 22”30” collar, 30”-42” body girth). And for Dad himself, there’s the Hobie Manual Inflatable 150 Vest (Yoke), which is rated for offshore use while wearing foul weather clothing. It’s very lightweight and cool, and the collar folds down the back of your neck and shoulders, eliminating pressure on the neck and lower head. The yoke is manually inflated by pulling a cord that activates a replaceable CO2 cylinder. The vest fits up to 5XL, has an easy access storage pocket (great for keys, phone etc.); whistle; headphone port hole; D-ring for switch killer tether; UML Pro Sensor; self service; and more. Price: approx. $60-$120 www.hobie.com

Gift

The Fish Inc. Egilicious features a unique take on popular colour patterns, a tail design that is 3° higher than standard jigs to minimize snagging and fouling, and its fine Japanese Owner hooks. These super sharp and ultra-thin stainless steel hooks not only mean a better catch rate but also fewer jigs lost. They open with less force, so if you get snagged you just apply slow and steady pressure until the hook opens and the jig pops off the structure. Then you can straighten the hook and you’re good to go. These squid jigs are designed with the perfect weight for long casts, while maintaining a slow sink and realistic swimming action. Other features include 3D eyes, side feathers, tightly-wrapped cloth covers and a buoyant tail-up action. Many jigs sink flat to the bottom, reducing strikes and hook sets while increasing snagging, but Egilicious instead comes alive in the water. It’s available in 3.0 and 3.5 sizes and 12 colours. Price: SRP $11.95 www.tackletactics.com.au

Guide

FATHERS DAY GUIDE

8. 9.

11.

RAPALA SPLIT RING PLIERS

Maria have an extensive range of floating and sinking stickbaits, but the new Rerise adds another dimension to the line-up. This new concept lure measures 130mm long, weighs 70g and can search deep areas normal minnows can’t reach. It sinks at one second per metre, allowing the angler to fish any level of the water column with the appeal of a tuned Japanese stickbait. The heavy weight enables lets you drop the lure to the bottom, and the swimming action imitates a wound baitfish, resulting in explosive strikes. Fitted with Owner ST-66 trebles and a strong wire through construction, the Rerise is ready to battle any pelagic you can target. It is available now in eight colours. Price: approx. $35 www.ejtodd.com.au

MARIA RERISE

The new Rapala RCD 4” Mag Spring Split Ring Pliers offer easy to use, single-handed operation. Unlike conventional split ring pliers, the new Rapala RCD series are built with two internally opposing magnets to hold the pliers open. The patent pending Mag Spring mechanism cannot fail, even in the harshest of conditions. The split ring nose opens rings up to size 0, while the built-in cutter cuts all lines or tag ends with ease. Other features include stainless steel jaws with a gun metal finish, and ergonomic co-moulded Soft Grip handles for a comfortable hold. In a nutshell, the RCD Split Ring Pliers are one of the easiest, quickest and toughest built split rings pliers on the market. Keep an eye out for them at your local tackle store. Price: approx. $35 www.rapala.com.au

SAMAKI BIG GRIP DIGITAL SCALE

The Samaki Big Grip Digital Scale has so many features that it’s hard to name them all. For starters, the ergonomic big grip handle is ideal for weighing big fish, with the scale catering up to 50kg or 100lb. It’s very comfortable to hold in the hand while you ready your catch for the weighing process. The casing is completely waterproof and holds a 100cm measuring tape for you to document your catch with ease. The Samaki Big Grip Digital Scale also has a backlit LED screen to give you readings in low light environments, plus a built-in thermometer in both Celsius and Fahrenheit. For more information and stockists just visit the Samaki website, or you can follow them on Instagram (@samakifishing) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/samakifishing). Price: approx. $50 www.samaki.com.au

12.

EUREKA GLIDE BLADE KNIVES

Eureka Glide Blade knives offer an exceptional range of knives with outstanding features at affordable pricing.

The Eureka Glide Blades currently are available in a Straight Fillet 6” and 8” model. Each knife features a 3CR13 stainless steel Satin blade that is strong, flexible and holds great edge retention. The textured soft grip handles are comprised of nylon and rubber, enabling the handle to fit comfortably in your hand while also reducing the chance of slippage and injury. Each handle also features a finger guard for added safety. The Eureka Glide Blades come complete with a leather sheath with a belt clip to protect the knife and keep it within reach if required. For more information on this and other products in the Eureka range, visit the Juro OzPro Tackle website. You can also check out the latest catch photos, tips and videos on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ JuroOzProTackle), and YouTube (www. youtube.com/user/JuroOzPro). Price: from approx. $30 www.jurofishing.com

WILSON PLATINUM FISHING CHAIR

The new Wilson Platinum Fishing Chair is rated to 150kg and built with a wider base to ensure anyone can comfortably sit in it. This folding chair also has some clever additions for anglers. For starters there is a rod holder that can be easily attached to the left hand side of the chair on the legs, setting your rod at an easy angle. If you plan on getting up from your chair, the designers have included a peg for the leg to ensure the chair is secured to the ground, and a massive strike won’t tip the chair over. There is also a drink holder and a lined cooler bag in the arms, and a small bottle opener attached to the arm on a lanyard. On the right arm there is also a mobile phone holder pouch, to ensure your phone doesn’t get damaged when the action heats up. The comfy and strong Platinum Fishing Chair is available now in your choice of blue or purple. Price: SRP $62 www.wilsonfishing.com

DUO ROUGH TRAIL HYDRA

Long and lean and designed as the ultimate sinking stickbait for large predators, the new Duo Rough Trail Hydra 220 is the lure to pack for your next offshore adventure. Slim-profiled and with a fixed weight in the tail to maximise casting performance and enhance its action, the Hydra 220 features a dynamic skipping action when worked across the surface, while a twitch and jerk retrieve will see it move from side to side to enhance strikes. A hyper realistic garfish imitation when worked across the surface, the Hydra is ultra long (220mm) in length to reduce fishing swallowing and biting off the lure, while its tail-heavy, 58.2g body weight allows for long, tangle free casting on the water. If you’re looking to call up the predators to the surface the new Duo Rough Trail Hydra 220 is the lure to reach for. Price: approx. $40 www.duo-international.com.au AUGUST 2019

Taylor chutes to victory in the Bribie Round Brisbane-based dentist Tristan Taylor managed to take out the Nu Look Floors Bribie Island qualifier in the 2019 Costa ABT BREAM Series with a total bag weight of 5.14kg, an impressive score for this arena. Taylor has his fair share of finishes up the pointy end of the scoreboard, and after a short hiatus from tournaments, he’s come back with a bang! Taylor said he’d found spawning fish in the Caloundra area on the pre-fish day, where three weeks before he couldn’t find any bream at all! This would prove to be the key for his win. Taylor started his efforts at the Bribie Island Bridge on day one for just one fish, and after a bit of consideration, he decided to make the run through Pumicestone Passage to Caloundra in his Phoenix at low tide. Taylor took care to make sure he didn’t get stuck on a sand bank, as some other boaters had unfortunately done. Upon arrival, Taylor and his non-boater found the same school of spawning fish he found on the pre-fish day near the Caloundra Bar

TRISTAN TAYLOR’S WINNING TCKLE Rod: Reel: Line:

Samurai Infinite 4-10lb Megabass Idaten Racing Condition 2506 10lb Unitika Aorika PE and 6lb Unitika Aiger fluorocarbon leader Lures: 2.5” ZMan GrubZ in motor oil rigged on Atomic Seekerz jigheads (1/11, 1/8 and 1/6oz) and 35mm Cranka Crab in olive

Champion boater and non-boater, Tristan Taylor and Stephen Maas, celebrate their respective victories. in around 15ft of water. He went to work fishing a ZMan GrubZ in motor oil. “They came on for a one-hour window,” Taylor said. “The key was to keep tight with the lure and feel every little touch of the lure to set hooks.” “This was difficult in the strong wind and current,

so I varied the jighead size accordingly. “ Taylor said he landed around 20 fish for the day, and ended up with a day one bag of 2.23kg. Day two saw Taylor come up with a different plan, and he decided to make the run to the Brisbane River mouth in horrendous conditions.

“I got in behind Shane Wolhuter’s boat [the biggest boat in the field] and it made for a great shield!” Taylor said. “I thanked him for his camaraderie and sportsmanship.” Taylor managed to catch fish tight to structure initially, but then found spawning fish spread across a nearby flat

in 10-20ft out the front of the Luggage Point Sewage Treatment Plant, known locally as the ‘poo chute’. Obviously, there’s no actual human excrement flowing into the bay here… Taylor caught all his day two fish on ZMan GrubZ, bar one, which ate a Cranka Crab, and weighed in a bag of 2.91kg for day two. “I didn’t think I had enough to take the win – I thought I would have needed one more kicker fish,” Taylor said. “So I was pleasantly surprised to take the win.” “My non-boater Michael Maas slayed them too, and we would have caught at least 60

Scan the QR code to see the Bribie day one highlights.

fish between us on day two.” Taylor thanked ABT and the other competitors and took home $2500 for his efforts.

BOATER RESULTS Place Name 1 Tristan Taylor 2 John Siggs 3 Peter Cashman 4 Denis Metzdorf 5 Kristoffer Hickson 6 William Lee 7 Scott Wilson 8 Jamie McKeown 9 Mark Crompton 10 Charlie Saykao

Total Fish Total Weight (kg) Prize 10/10 5.14 $2500 10/10 4.97 $1500 + $500 Mercury Bonus 10/10 4.95 $1000 10/10 4.83 $750 + $300 Mercury Bonus 10/10 4.69 $500 + $200 Mercury Bonus 8/10 4.17 8/10 3.92 8/10 3.72 $500 Daiwa J Braid Big Bream 8/10 3.47 8/10 3.37

Visit www.abt.org.au for entry forms. For general enquiries phone ABT on (07) 3387 0888 44

AUGUST 2019

It was Shane Wolhuter’s big boat that provided the weather shield Taylor needed to make the run south. Clearly there was big bream to be caught there!

Siggs lights up Caloundra canal fish Gold Coast local John Siggs had never fished Bribie before, so his pre-fish was based around what he knows best, fishing artificial structure in canals!

He started his pre-fish by making a quick run to the Caloundra canals and caught six decent fish in fairly quick succession. He left them, knowing

that was his spot for day one. Day one saw Siggs heading to the Bribie canals for a quick prospect, where he managed one keeper fish, waiting for the tide to come

in so he could make his way through the Passage to the Caloundra canals. By 9am there was enough water to make his run north. Once at Caloundra, he stayed there all day throwing a Gulp Crabby on a 1/50oz hidden weight jighead, skipping it under boats, jetties, ropes and any artificial structure he thought would hold fish. He caught his limit and even upgraded a few times. That gave him a day one total of 2.31kg, and had him sitting in 5th place. On day two Siggs had a plan to go back to the Caloundra canals, but on

BREAM SERIES

Scan the QR code to see the Bribie day two highlights. his way he noticed that only Kris Hickson had gone into the Bribie canals. With the bay being opened, most of the anglers had made their

JOHN SIGGS’S TACKLE Rod: Reel: Line: Lure: Siggs did what he does best for the Bribie Island round, fish hard around artificial structure for big angry bream!

Samurai Reaction 101 Daiwa SOL 2000 Major Craft 6lb and 3lb FC Rock leader 2.5” Gulb Crabby in camo rigged on a 1/50oz TT Lures Hidden Weight System jighead

Stephen finds critical ‘Maas’ Stephen Maas and his cousin Michael Maas took out 1st and 2nd in the non-boater division respectively, proving that bream fishing must run in the family. Stephen Maas knew he was in for a great Bribie Qualifier when he got paired with two reasonably local guys to the Bribie area, with Steve Morgan on day one and and Denis Metzdorf on day two. Day one saw Maas fishing with Steve Morgan. Unfortunately, the bay was closed due to strong winds. With the arena being reduced by virtually half, they went straight to the canals, fishing boat hulls and jetties. Before Maas would cast he was mindful of the areas Morgan would fish, trying to put his lure in places that Morgan had not hit, usually hitting the back jetty poles with a Gulp Crabby. By doing this he managed to box two legal fish. He also tried a Cranka Crab and a popper with no result. Once they fished the canals, Morgan took them to the Ningi Flats, where Maas

picked up one more legal bream on a Cranka Crank Shallow in ghost bluegill, which saw him finish day one with a bag of three fish for a weight of 1.24kg. Day two had Maas fishing with his good mate Denis Metzdorf, and the pair were happy to find out that the bay was open. This meant they could make the run straight to Redcliffe’s North Reef, which

took about 40 minutes. It was still a little rough making the journey south, but they realised the effort was worth it when Metzdorf caught three keepers straight away. Maas didn’t catch a legal fish until about 10:30am, when they made a move further south. Maas had noticed there were no baitfish on the shallow reefs, so he switched

way there, leaving the canals nearly free of angling pressure. He stayed there all day, mirroring his day one pattern using his Gulp Crabbies and casting at pontoons, poles and boat hulls. Once again, he got his limit of bream with a few upgrades and ended up weighing a day two bag of 2.66kg. For his 2nd place finish, Siggs took home $1500, plus a $500 Mercury Bonus. He also congratulated Tristan Taylor for his win, and thanked ABT and the other competitors.

STEPHEN MASS’S WINNING TACKLE Rod: Reel: Line: Lures:

G Loomis DL/SR 7ft Okuma Helios SX 30 Platypus P8 6lb and FC Rock 3lb leader Gulb Crabby in camo, 2.5” ZMan GrubZ in motor oil, Cranka Crank Shallow in ghost bluegill

Sandstone Point, where he got a few needed upgrades on his Cranka Crank Shallow. This had him bringing a limit of bream to the scales with a weight of 3kg, and combined with his day one bag gave him enough to win!

Maas went away from the event with a Daiwa Prize pack and a $200 Hobie Bonus. Maas was grateful to both his boaters, Steve Morgan and Denis Metzdorf, and thanked ABT and the other competitors.

DAIWA J BRAID BIG BREAM Jamie McKeown managed to weigh a 1.3kg stonker, which he caught on a Cranka Crab. He took home $500 for his efforts.

Stephen Maas had a great weekend on the water at the back of the boat.

NON-BOATER RESULTS

Place Name

Total Fish Total Weight (kg) Prize

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

8/10 8/10 10/10 9/10 7/10 5/10 7/10 7/10 5/10 5/10

Stephen Maas Michael Maas Aaron Sarna Justin Reeves Jordan Armstrong Darren Murphy Sam Peck Grant Oliver Neil Kelly Glen Sturrock

to a ZMan GrubZ in motor oil rigged on a 1/12oz jighead, and begun casting at the reef drop-offs and letting his grub slowly sink down the reef face. Doing this saw the bream shoot out from cover to eat his lure. Filling his limit on the first drift, he sat so his boater could do the same. He did not fish again until they got to Cooks Rocks at

BREAM Series presented by

4.24 3.81 3.67 3.43 3.21 2.90 2.57 2.51 2.22 1.87

Daiwa Prize Pack + $200 Hobie Bonus Fishtec Solutions Prize Pack Cranka Prize Pack + $100 Hobie Bonus Tackle Tactics Prize Pack $75 Hobie Bonus Sufix Prize Pack Ecogear Prize Pack Shimano Prize Pack Lucky Craft Prize Pack Keitech Prize Pack Sunline Prize Pack

Jamie McKeown managed this stonker 1.3kg bream to take out the Daiwa J Braid Big Bream prize. AUGUST 2019

Tech Tricks

Pimp up your jig rigs with some assist hooks BRISBANE

Gordon Macdonald masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com

Jig rigs, or assist rigs as they are more correctly known, are added to numerous metal free-fall and flat-fall jigs when

targeting a host of pelagic and demersal species. These kinds of jigs really come into their own in deep water, especially when currents are fairly strong and hamper getting other offerings into the zone. The enticing action of

these jigs helps to solicit a strike. Good technique is the key to successful jigging. Put simply, assist rigs are basically a single hook on a short length of tough cord that are designed to hook a fish when it attacks the jig. Why is the hook on a cord, I hear you ask! It is

Assist cords are commonly made out of Kevlar, Spectra, Dyneema or a combination of these fibres. Although available in breaking strains between 30-400lb, the more common sizes are 150-300lb for use with deep water metal jigs. Assist cord is relatively flexible yet has very abrasive resistant properties. Most specialist tackle stores should have at least one brand available.

Choose the appropriately sized assist cord based on the application. Obviously it needs to be heavier than the main line used. For most deep water jigs I will use a minimum of 150lb and a maximum of 300lb. Once you have cut your assist cord, use a heat gun or naked flame to melt and seal the end and eliminate the chance of fraying. 46

AUGUST 2019

mainly to minimize fouling on the leader. Even if the hook does catch on the leader, the suppleness of the rig allows it to easily fall back in position. When you are fishing depths in excess of 50m the last thing you want is for the hook to foul and make the jig

inoperable. A lot of time would be wasted and fishing opportunity lost if you needed to retrieve to sort the problem out. Having the hook on an abrasion resistant cord means that it will waft and bounce around as the jig is worked. Adding a little

flash or colour to the hook will increase its appeal. The extra movement the material adds is also an enticement. Letâ€™s look at a simple way to make your own assist rigs plus some ways to pimp them up, which increases their appeal to a host of fish species.

Most major hook manufacturers will have a jigging hook pattern suitable for this application. The Mustad Hoodlum is probably the easiest to find, however, the Mustad 10881 Jigging Single, the Owner SJ-41 and SJ-51, the BKK 8090 and 8070, Shout Kudako and Ijika, and Gamakatsu Single 60 are some of the more readily used patterns. Jigging hooks are inline, eliminating the possibility of them twisting during the descent or ascent and subsequently fouling. Hook size will depend on the size of the jig, but I recommend that the gape of the hook is wider than the jig at the position where the hook will hang. This means that when the fish grabs the jig, the hook will find its mark and not be impeded by the jigâ€™s width.

Pass the assist cord through the eye of the hook and then tie a simple overhand knot (granny knot) close to the end you sealed with heat. Pull this knot up as tight as possible. This is the start of the Japanese jigging knot, the easiest knot to make this assist rig with.

Tech Tricks

Using this knotted end, make another overhand knot around the main portion of assist cord so the knotted tag end is facing away from the hook as shown. As you can see, the Japanese jigging knot is simply one knot locked against another.

Repeat the process with the other end of your cord, however, this time secure it to a suitably-sized solid ring, or a heavy duty swivel if you wish. You can add some heat shrink over the knots if you want a professional look but this is not integral to the overall strength of the rig.

However, if you want to add more appeal, there are several options when it comes to pimping your assist rig. There are many types of flash materials (as you would use when fly tying), ones with glowâ€“in-the-dark or UV properties are ideal. Small octopus skirts will also exhibit a lot of movement and most of these have glow-in-the-dark eyes. Hookem Fish Skin has an iridescent Mylar reflection to it and will glow in low light conditions. This is the type of material that is on many bait jigs. I have also seen assist rigs adorned with marabou (fluffy feather), soft furs and many other materials.

Snug the second knot tight around the main portion of cord so that the initial knot in the end stops it coming undone. Snug this up as tight as possible. You can pass the hook over the handle of your pliers to provide some purchase and apply extreme pressure to ensure the knot is locked together tightly against the eye of the hook.

Attaching the assist rig to your jig is done using a heavy duty split ring. The leader is then attached directly to the solid ring using a sliding uni or similar. With this configuration, you are not relying on the split ring for any strength once you hook-up. You are now connected directly to the fish and the jig is hanging to the side. The solid ring is quite thick so that the leader will not suffer abrasion where it is attached. You are now ready to go jigging.

The whole purpose of pimping your assist hooks is to add more movement, visibility and appeal to the jig. There is a myriad of material types, colours and combinations that you can use. You can make them to match the jig or contrast it. Some will even put two assist hooks on the one jig, each with a different adornment. The main hook on any jig is attached to the top eyelet, as this limits snagging on the bottom and hook fouling yet offers great hook-up potential. Extra hooks could be added to other eyelets if fishing it mid water, although this can increase fouling. Making your own assist rigs allows you to customize it for any jig you own and is a fairly cost effective exercise. AUGUST 2019

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HOPETOUN – BREMER BAY Wavecrest Village & Tourist Park Hopetoun (08) 9838 3888 Hopetoun Caravan Park Hopetoun (08) 9838 3096 Bremer Bay Beaches Resort & Tourist Park Bremer Bay (08) 9837 4290

ALBANY Cheynes Beach Caravan Park Cheynes (08) 9846 1247 Albany Happy Days Caravan Park King River (08) 9844 3267 Albany Holiday Park Albany (08) 9841 7800 King River Palms Caravan Park Willyung (08) 98443232 Two Peoples Caravan Park Kalgan (08) 9846 4024 Emu Beach Chalets Emu Point (08) 9844 8889 Albany Holiday Units Middleton Beach (08) 9841 7817 Havana Villas Albany (08) 9844 1085 Lilacs Waterfront villas & cottages Robinson (08) 9841 2390

Pinjarra Caravan Park Mandurah (08) 9531 1374 Belvedere Caravan Park Mandurah (08) 9535 1213 The Dwellingup Chalet and Caravan Park (08) 9538 1157 Waroona Caravan Village (08) 9733 1518 Timber Top Caravan Park (08) 9535 1292 Lake Clifton Caravan Park (08) 9739 1255 Miami Holiday Park (08) 9534 2127 Peel Caravan Park (08) 9535 4343 Lake Navarino Holiday Park (08) 9733 3000 Estuary Hideaway Holiday Park 0407 838 061 Pinjarrah Holiday Park (08) 9531 1604 Waters Edge Caravan Park 0427 281 622 Mandurah Ocean Marina Chalets (08) 9535 8173 Footprints Preston Beach (08) 9739 1111

MOORE RIVER – LANCELIN – CERVANTES Guilderton Caravan Park (08) 9577 1021 Experience Lancelin Holiday Park (08) 9655 1056 Branchys Holiday Homes Guilderton (08) 9577 1321

JURIEN BAY – GREEN HEAD – LEEMAN Jurien Bay Tourist Park Jurien Bay (08) 9652 1595 Green Head Caravan Park Green Head (08) 9953 1131 Leeman Caravan Park Leeman (08) 9953 1080

DONGARA – GERALDTON Seaspray Beach Holiday Park Dongara (08) 9927 1165 Leander Reef Holiday Park Port Denison (08) 9927 1840 Port Denison Holiday Units (08) 9927 1104 Double Beach Caravan Park (08) 9921 5845 Batavia Coast Caravan Park (08) 9938 1222 Horrocks Beach Caravan Park (08) 9934 3039

This section in WA 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. 50

AUGUST 2019

Boats & Guided Fishing Tours Directory KALBARRI Murchison River Caravan Park Kalbarri (08) 9937 1005 Kalbarri Anchorage Caravan Park Kalbarri (08) 9937 1181 Murchison House Station Kalbarri (08) 9937 1998 Kalbarri Beach Bungalows A & B Kalbarri (08) 9937 0400 Murchison caravan park Kalbarri (08) 9937 0400 Kalbarri Blue Ocean Villas Kalbarri (08) 9937 2442

BOATS Aquasports Marine Midvale (08) 9250 3339

SHARK BAY Denham Seaside Caravan Park, (08) 9948 1242 Shark Bay Caravan Park (08) 9948 1387 Oceanside Village Denham Shark Bay (08) 9948 3003 Bay Lodge Denham Shark Bay WA (08) 9948 1278 RAC Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort (08) 9948 1320

CARNARVON Wintersun Caravan and Tourist Park (08) 9941 8150 Capricorn Holiday Park (08) 9941 8153 Outback Oasis Caravan Park (08) 9941 1439 Carnarvon Caravan Park (08) 9941 8101 Norwesta Lifestyle Park (08) 9941 1277 Coral Coast Tourist Park (08) 9941 1438

CORAL BAY Peoples Park (08) 9942 5933 Bayview Coral Bay (08) 9385 6655 Ningaloo Club (08) 9948 5100 Ningaloo Reef Resort (08) 9942 5934

EXMOUTH

WA DEALER OF THE YEAR

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

WHY DEAL WITH ANYONE ELSE? 331 Great Eastern Hwy, Midvale, WA 6056

Ph: (08) 9250 3339

Midway Marine (08) 9527 6963

MARINE MECHANICS Falcon Services Australia Midvale 0458 852 591 Bay Marine Maintenance Crawley (08) 9386 7059 Pleisure Marine Maintenance O’Connor (08) 9337 9569 Boat Fix Balcatta (08) 9240 8778 Parker Marine Fremantle (08) 9336 6979 Matich Marine East Fremantle (08) 9339 7722 Chandlers Marine Service Wangara (08) 9303 9366 Mobile Marine WA Osborne Park 0428 225 877 GP Marine Cockburn Central 0408 913 104 Hitech Marine Wangara (08) 9309 2888 Bravo Marine Services Bayswater (08) 9272 9300 Seasport Marine Kelmscott (08) 9498 1799 The Boat Business Henderson (08) 9437 5144 Total Marine Repairs Mandurah (08) 9582 7211 West Coast Boat Works Perth Landsdale 0439 969 459 Boat Lifters Blue HQ Perth (08) 9239 9333 Bravo Marine Services Bayswater (08) 9272 9300 Perth Boat Mechanics Huntingdale 0405 593 786 GP Marine Cockburn Central 0408 913 104 Platinum Boating Maintenance Wangara 0402 477 656 Parker Marine Fremantle (08) 9336 6979 Westmarine Boating Services Fremantle WA 0425 177 700

MARINE ACCESSORIES Challenge Batteries Osborne Park (08) 9446 6122 JPW Marine Wholesale Distributors Perth (08) 6253 3000 Whitworths Marine & Leisure - Leerderville (08) 9381 1442 Crackpots Marine Supplies O’Connor (08) 9337 2211 Hydrowave – www.hydrowaveaustralia.com

Ningaloo Lighthouse Holiday Park (08) 9949 1478 Yardie Homestead Caravan Park (08) 9949 1389 Ningaloo Caravan and Holiday Resort (08) 9949 2377 Exmouth Escape Resort (08) 9949 4800 Mantarays Ningaloo Beach Resort, Exmouth (08) 9949 0000

$449 USD

ONSLOW Discovery Parks - Onslow (08) 9184 6007 Ocean View Caravan Park (08) 9184 6053

(includes shipping)

DAMPIER Dampier Transit Caravan Park (08) 9183 1109 Discovery Parks - Pilbara, Karratha (08) 9185 1855 Karratha Caravan Park (08) 9185 1012 Discovery Parks - Balmoral, Karratha (08) 9185 3628 Aspen Karratha Village Baynton (08) 9185 2726 Karratha Apartments Karratha (08) 9143 9222 Searipple Village Karratha Bulgarra (08) 9158 7400 Karratha Village Karratha 1300 321 669

PORT HEDLAND Discovery Parks Port Hedland (08) 9173 1271 Port Tourist Park Port Hedland (08) 9172 4111 Blackrock Tourist Park South Hedland (08) 9172 3444 Landing Resort Port Hedland (08) 9172 4111

www.hydrowaveaustralia.com Offshore Marine Guildford (08) 6278 1299 Whitworths Marine & Leisure - Mosman Park (08) 9385 5877 Searano Marine Malaga (08) 9248 2242 All Boats and Caravans Kingsley (08) 9309 4200

Ph 9527 6963

43 Hurrell Way, Rockingham www.midwaymarine.net.au Bluewater Marine (08) 9791 1499

BROOME

GET ONBOARD

Broome Caravan Park (08) 9192 1776 Discovery Parks - Broome (08) 9192 1366 Broome Vacation Village Caravan Park Broome (08) 9192 1057 Cable Beach Caravan Park Broome (08) 9192 2066 Tarangau Caravan Park Broome (08) 9193 5084

MARINE TRIMMERS The Trim Shop (08) 9430 5332 Mason Marine Trimmers O’Connor 0418 923 787 John’s Motor Trimmers Auto & Marine Upholstery Welshpool (08) 9470 5531 Waters Edge Marine Trimmers Leeming 0412 204 085 G.K. Trimmers Canning Vale (08) 9455 7144 Prestige Marine Trimmers Perth (08) 9303 9536 McCarroll Motor & Marine Trimmers Osborne Park (08) 9244 1449 Exclusive Marine Trimming & Upholstery O’Connor (08) 9314 6882 Universal Marine & Automotive Upholstery O’Connor 08) 9314 1770 John’s mobile trimmers Jandakot (08) 9417 4414 Cutting Edge Marine Trimming O’Connor 0432 062 834 Mandurah Motor Trimmers Greenfields (08) 9581 8180

WELDING & MANUFACTURING

DERBY

CSD Designs Bayswater 0407 772 010 XFactor Signs 0413 113 828

Kimberley Entrance Caravan Park (08) 9193 1055 West Kimberley Lodge & Caravan Park (08) 9191 1031

KUNUNURRA Town Caravan Park (08) 9168 1763 Wyndham Caravan Park (08) 9161 1064 Lake Argyle Caravan Park (08) 9168 7777 Discovery Parks - Lake Kununurra (08) 9168 1031 Ivanhoe Village Caravan Resort (08) 9169 1995 Lake Argyle Resort (08) 9168 7777 Hidden Valley Caravan Park (08) 9168 1790 Kununurra Lakeside Resort (08) 9169 1092 El Questro Wilderness Park 1800 837 168 Kona Lakeside Caravan Park (08) 9161 1139

18 HAWKINS ST, EAST BUNBURY, WA 6230

(08)

9791 1499

Northbank Fibreglass Boats @northbankboats

Boat Wrap Specialist www.xfactorsigns.com

Advertisers wanting to be involved in this directory can call 0417 901 301 or email nick@fishingmonthly.com.au AUGUST 2019

Stessco Amberjack 520 with Yamaha F90hp - SC

TENT -

RE ONLINE MO

RPM......Speed.(km/h)...........Economy.(km/L) 1000 .........................7 ................................3.9 1500 .........................9 ................................3.1 2000....................... 12 ................................2.8 2500 ....................... 13 ................................2.1 3000....................... 26 ................................3.2 3500 ....................... 33 ................................3.4 4000....................... 39 ................................3.3 4500 ....................... 47 ................................3.1 5000....................... 53 ................................2.8 5500 ....................... 60 ................................2.2 5900 ....................... 65 ................................1.7 58

AUGUST 2019

DE FOR EX

PERFORMANCE

us up to 65km/h, and a fuel economy of 1.7L/km, and this is a fair clip for a family boat. To conserve fuel but also get where you need to on time, the best cruising speed was around that 3500rpm, which delivered

I was recently told that South East Queensland is the largest boating market in Australia, and Brisbanebased boat manufacturer Stessco definitely take advantage of that. This may not sound very important or interesting to you, but to me it means that by buying a Stessco you’re buying a boat that’s made for people who love boating! That’s exactly how I would describe the Amberjack 520. The 520 represents a line of high-quality boats, and is the middle size of three models, the others being the 490 and 550. The Amberjack is one of Stessco’s ‘premium’ runabouts, and is perfect for a more experienced boater who likes mixing fishing, water sports and time with friends and family. TRAILER A premium boat needs a premium trailer, and if the buyer chooses to sit the boat on one of the propose-built Stessco trailers (built by Dunbier) there’s a structural warranty of five years. The 520 sits on a single-axle braked trailer, meaning despite it’s large size it could still be fairly easily manoeuvred in a garage

for storage. It also makes sense to sit a boat on a trailer that is built specifically for that boat, as this will contribute to the boat’s longevity. ALL-ROUND SPECIALIST All-round specialist is the only way I can describe the boat’s intended purpose, with everything to accommodate the skier, fisher, camper, crabber, or someone who just like to lounge around on other peoples’ boats. The bow is kept clean and simple, with a tidy anchor well and grab rails either side to guide the boat in shallow water. The windscreen door means quick and safe access to the anchor well, and also allows people to enter from the bow. Behind the windscreen, the cockpit is laid out logically, and also provides relative comfort for the skipper and mate. Stessco’s Bolster seats are incredibly comfortable, and will be hugely appreciated on slightly longer trips. Flushmounted gadgets are always going to be much easier to look after, and it means you don’t have to worry about brackets and other annoying protrusions. The 520 will flush-mount a sounder up to nine inches, which is perfect if you want to download maps of your chosen hunting ground. There’s also a dry lockable glove box on the passenger

Bob Thornton

CON

AN THE

BRISBANE

you certainly don’t want your prized craft spending more time in the shop than out on the water. Although perfectly capable of heading offshore, weather permitting, these boats

SPECIFICATIONS

Main: A little bit of chop didn’t worry the Amberjack out on Pumicestone Passage. Above: The Softride hull ensured that anyone aboard would be comfortable when underway and at rest. side for phones, wallets, maps, watches and so on, and storage for larger items, such as camping gear, under the bow. The bimini is an excellent addition, especially in sunny states where sun protection is a priority. The bimini covers the skipper and mate comfortably, while leaving the work area open. The work area behind the cockpit is left open deliberately to allow room for extra passengers, gear and somewhere to enjoy being out on the water. If you want to keep smaller items out of the way, the side pockets are a handy addition, and the only under floor storage – the kill box – means there’s no need to bring extra ice boxes or eskies on board. There is a padded block for two to sit comfortably, which opens up for extra dry storage, and the added back rest makes the ride comfortable for passengers. The block can be tilted forward to expose two hatches built into the stern. The high sides, transom and splash well means that passengers in the rear will stay very dry, even in choppy conditions, and the positioning of the seating at the very back

of the work area ensures that the already very soft ride is even softer. The transom offers access to the craft via a small ladder and door, and the shallow draft of this boat allows a user to spin it around easily and climb in without difficulty. YAMAHA F90HP Powering this craft was a Yamaha F90hp. These engines are known for their quietness, reliability and fuel economy, and on the day, in around 10-15 knots of breeze on SEQ’s Pumicestone Passage, the engine lived up to that reputation. Full tilt into the breeze got

Length.(mm) ..............................................5420 Beam.(mm) ................................................2290 Depth.(mm)................................................ 1210 Bottom.sides.(mm) .........................................4 Top.sides.(mm) ................................................3 Max.hp ......................................................... 115 Max.Transom.weight.(kg) ...........................270 Transom.height.(“) ........................................20 Max.people......................................................5 Base.boat.hull.weight.(kg) .........................485 3.4L/km /h at 33km. Of course, the ride was comfortable for skipper, mate and rear passengers in the les than ideal conditions, and everyone stayed dry… until it rained while I was in the rear. FINAL THOUGHTS This tough contender offers everything you need for a general-purpose boat. The ease of use and logical layout makes it perfect for those who just love being on the water, without going all out on a more expensive fibreglass boat. With the simple layout comes the ease of maintenance, and

are designed for bays, lakes and rivers, and Stessco have other boats in the range that better suit offshore work. Coming in at around the $40,000 mark (as tested) this is very reasonable considering the top quality gadgets and design, and will no doubt last you many years of enjoyable boating, with added peace of mind when you have a 5-year structural warranty. For more info about any boats in the Stessco range, visit www.stessco.com.au, or find them on Facebook or Instagram at ‘Stessco’.

The Yamaha F90hp delivered excellent speed and economy, and the quietness at idle will be appreciated on those fun ‘non-fishing’ trips.

Flush-mounted electronics means that there’s no annoying protruding brackets that often just get in the way. Left: Stessco trailers (built by Dunbier) come in both aluminium and galvanised steel models. Right: Although capable of taking up to 115hp, the F90hp seems adequate for the craft’s intended use.

Driving this craft on and off was a breeze, and could easily be done solo if need be. The cockpit was simple yet comfortable, and the uncomplicated finish means there’s far less to go wrong.

Sitting a boat on a trailer designed specially for it makes sense, and extends the structural warranty to 5 years, or 60 months.

Boats of this size will tend to need a braked trailer, but that’s not to say the Amberjack 520 is difficult to trail.

The underfloor kill box is a great alternative to an external esky or icebox, which usually only gets in the way.

A drained anchor well up front, accessible by the door in the windscreen, makes parking up and enjoying the sunshine much easier.

Rear seating is not only comfortable, it also doubles as extra storage for anything you may want to keep dry.

The cranking battery sits out of the way but not out of sight, meaning any field work can be done quickly and easily.

Padded rear seating will be appreciated by those relegated to the back of the craft on longer journeys. AUGUST 2019