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Contents 9
13
14
22
From the Editor’s Desk...
METRO Metro Offshore
12
Metro 13 SOUTH COAST Esperance 14 Bremer Bay
15
Albany 15 WEST COAST Augusta 16 Busselton 19 Mandurah 20 Lancelin 22 Bunbury 24 Jurien Bay
With the New Year hopefully there’s a few fishing related New Year’s resolutions. Mine for this year are to do more fishing with the family and to get out on the water more with friends. It sounds easy enough, but as with all of you it is surprising just how often the daily toil and life puts barriers in our way. So this year I am going to make a concerted effort and make it happen. Our kids will only be kids for a very short time and the more time we can give them in the outdoors the more it will set them up for a happier life in the future. Mental health seems to be a major issue in kids these days, and I have no doubt that screens, devices and the online world with social media are major contributors. So everyone should do their utmost to get a kid into fishing this year. It is not just about the fishing, it’s also about being outdoors with family and friends, and
camping and fishing trips will be remembered by kids for a long time. Try asking them what they did last week on their ipad… The fishing around the state seems to have slipped into summer mode, and on the most part going by the reports the fishing is pretty good too. So if you are still wondering where to go on the school holidays, have a read through the reports and you may be able to narrow down your options! With summer upon us it is also a good idea to start planning those northern winter fishing trips. If you plan and make arrangements now you can get some good deals on accommodation and also ensure that you get the accommodation you want. It is also a good feeling knowing that everything is sorted and you can just spend your time planning and prepping for fishing! Being a new year I really want to thank all of the writers and area report contributors for
their great efforts through 2019. There have been some fantastic and informative articles over the year, which makes reading them all the more enjoyable, both for me and for you the readers. Writing area reports is no easy task, it may seem easy, but writing fishing reports every month eventually becomes hard work, so for the area report writers I also take off my hat and say thank you very much for your fantastic efforts. I would also like to make a special mention to all of the report writers who have been with us from the very beginning! If you see an area report from a tackle shop in a town you will know that these staff are happy to share info and give you the best advice so that you get the most out of your visit to their area. Be sure to drop in and have a chat with the area report writers and make sure you let them know you read their reports in Fishing Monthly! I am sure they will appreciate
Ian Sewell the acknowledgement. While I am on the subject of writers, if you live in a coastal town that does not have a fishing report, why not do something for your community and write one for us? We will happily pay you for your efforts and your community will also benefit from visiting tourists. We are also always looking for more feature articles, so if you think you have something worth sharing with the WA fishing community, be sure to get in touch with me. I am more than happy to help you make getting your first article published an easy process. The hardest part is taking that first step and making contact. Before I go, thank you also to you the readers out there! I hope you had a happy and safe festive season and hope that 2020 brings a few bucket list species and some personal bests. Stay safe and get out on the water!
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Geraldton 31 GASCOYNE COAST Exmouth 32 Kalbarri 32 NORTH COAST
SINCE 2018
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Tech Tricks
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SPECIAL FEATURES Reading a beach Making the most of a secret spot
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A Jacob Crispe image.
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Black Magic Masterclass
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Production: Keith Hawley Karen Millward
OUR OUR COVER COVER
James Brown managed to wrestle this truly spectacular samsonfish ashore on the South Coast, and released it after a quick snap.
ION
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AT
Back to Basics
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A fully enclosed wheelhouse is the only true way of keeping out the elements thus, the 650HT-F can offer true offshore capabilities. Built strong, tough and with mirror finish gel-coats your Northbank will last in the most extreme conditions on earth. Get the tackle packed and get onboard for the trip of a lifetime. There’s only one thing that’s going to outlast the stories from this trip, that’s the Northbank 650HT-F Hard Top.
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Mastering the art of how to read the beach FMG
Sean Thompson
Beach fishing isn’t just a sport, it’s a passion. Get it right and it can be incredibly productive. Not only that, but in our fast-paced world filled with digital gadgets and deadlines, it can be damn good for your mental and physical health. The sights, sounds and feel of the waves as they wash away your woes is something special. Even better if it is interrupted by a screaming reel and buckling rod! GENERAL RULES To get your best results from the beach, you need to understand how, where and when to fish. The number one rule in beach fishing is that you need to be able to read the beach to understand where the fish might be. Inexperienced
anglers often make the mistake of just throwing in a line wherever the sand track leads them out to the beach, and then expect fish. Even if there is fishable water there, these same areas are also popular with swimmers and surfers, and thus tend to spook flighty fish. There are a few other general rules and tactics that will significantly increase the odds in your favour when beach fishing. These include knowing your target species and seasons, having the right gear, and knowing the right time and techniques to catch them. You also need a few plan Bs and Cs for when the fish play hard to get. When you have some sneaky little tactics up your sleeve, it can turn a very ordinary session into a very good one! For now, let’s start by learning how to ‘read’ a beach.
The author and his son in a double hook-up in a shallow gutter at high tide. One fish is being landed while the other is being played out. CHOOSING THE RIGHT WATER You can have the best tackle, baits, lures and surf conditions, but if you’re
An elevated position gives a good view of a big long channel. Note the smaller whiting gutters close to shore and the big entrance halfway along at the back.
fishing where the fish are unlikely to be, you won’t catch much! This is why it’s is so important to know how to read a beach. Gutters, holes, channels, spits, rips, sweep, back banks… fishing has a vocabulary all of its own, but these areas aren’t that complicated to spot or understand. Basically, the colour of the water (darker water is deeper) and the wave patterns are the main giveaways, and when you know what to look for you’ll maximise your catch rates. Gutter Gutters are stretches of deeper water scoured out of the sand, characterised by darker, greener water. They generally have a back sand bank where the water is shallower, and the waves break over this bank before reforming in the gutter, and don’t break again until they get closer to, or hit the shore. Fish like tailor, salmon and dart will prowl the edges of the back bank, and these same fish may roam inside the deeper water of the gutter looking for food. The shore break of a gutter (where waves are breaking on the shore) is the place to target foraging fish such as herring and whiting. These predators roam in the shallower gutters just beyond the shore, and as the waves break and surge up
the beach, the fish quickly follow the water in and help themselves to the worms and pipis exposed, or any vulnerable baitfish. Entrance An entrance is often found with a gutter, and
Light, long graphite outfits are an inexpensive yet effective option as a second outfit for spinning the gutters for tailor.
RINCON
Like the California point break it was named for, the Rincon has a classic West Coast straight bridge, wrapping style lines and edgy curved temples.
GREEN MIRROR: Enhanced vision and contrast for fishing inshore and on flats. • Copper Base • 10% light transmission
8
JANUARY 2020
it’s like a funnel of deeper, cleaner water that channels faster flowing water from the inner gutters or holes out to the open sea. This is known by swimmers as a rip. A break in the rolling waves can indicate an entrance, and this area is also characterised by more rippled water. Fish use these entrances to enter and exit the shorebased gutters that hold a smorgasbord of food for them. Fish like to use entrances because they don’t like sand in their gills or becoming disorientated by breaking waves. One entrance to a gutter is good, and two entrances is even better! Gutters can also vary in size and depth, with deeper gutters tending to hold bigger fish like tailor, salmon and mulloway at the right time of day. Shallower gutters are perfect for smaller forage fish such as whiting and dart. Fish like whiting can be found in a couple of different types of shallower gutters.
OPTIMAL USE: • Sight fishing in full sun • High contrast
Tailor are a popular target for beach anglers, but you need to choose the right water for them.
Examples include shallow inner gutters that fill over an exposed back sand bank at high tide, or shallow low tide gutters that have a blind end. A blind end is where the gutter closes off to the shore or a sand spit and, provided it has a little bit of white water for protection, the fish will feed right up in this corner. Hole Holes are pockets of scoured-out sand in the surf which are formed as a result of big seas. They are evidenced by their darker blue/green colour and also by waves, which don’t break
at all over them. Holes can either be fully enclosed as they are surrounded by sand bars, or they can have an opening to the sea. These are great locations to fish at night on the high tide for predators such as mulloway, particularly if the hole has an opening or entrance to the sea. At low tide they can be good locations for flathead and bream. Smaller ‘melon’ holes are indentations of around a metre or so in diameter, and can often be found on
sand spits or smaller gutters. Whiting like to forage for worms and yabbies in melon holes. Channel Channels are simply very long gutters which are scoured out parallel to the beach. They can run for several hundred metres or even kilometres at times. They act like a fish highway, with fish travelling along them in search of food. If there are few other features nearby to fish, your best option when confronted with
a long channel is to look for areas where the beach shelves away steeply on the shore into the channel, or the back bank is within castable distance for species such as tailor and salmon. Outer channels can be described as a second channel running parallel to an inner channel closer to shore and the beach. These are the highways for very big fish, including sharks and pelagics such as mackerel, tuna, giant trevally and more. You can reach these outer
Hooked up to another tailor on a light graphite outfit.
When choosing where to fish channels look for a sloping beach into deeper water and a back bank breaking within casting distance.
channels at low tide if you choose an inner channel with a close back bank, and cast over it using big grapnel sinkers and running ‘slide baits’ of live fish or big flesh baits out to this deep water. Another alternative is to cast out with a more standard rig but with a big bait into an entrance or rip, and let the fast-flowing rip take the bait out to this outer channel. Sand spit Sand spits are areas where the sand on the shore juts out to form a point in the surf zone. These areas can
be exposed at low tide and are great worming locations. They are usually surrounded by a hole or a gutter so you can fish from them at low tide, or fish over them at high tide for fish like whiting and smaller dart – provided they have a sufficient coverage of water and a bit of white wash from waves as protection. Beach corner Beach corners are another part of the beach fishing vocabulary. These are areas where permanent holes have been chiselled out next to headlands or large patches
of rock. These can be great places to fish, especially when the seas are very calm and the baitfish seek shelter from the calm, clear conditions in these locations. Vantage point To most effectively read the beach, it’s important to get up on a higher vantage point. This may be a sand dune (provided it isn’t closed for regeneration), a headland or simply the highest point on the beach. Even better if you can do this at low tide during the middle of the day, To page 10
JANUARY 2020
9
Tech Tricks
How to make your own rod and reel tube BRISBANE
Gordon Macdonald masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com
Most anglers take great pride in their fishing tackle and want to look after it to ensure its longevity.
Regardless of the price of the tackle, getting it to and from your fishing destination safely is a necessity. The last thing you need after driving a distance to your destination is to take your rod out of the car and find that you have a dislodged guide
insert or, even worse, a broken blank. There are plenty of rod tubes available that will protect your rod, however most require that you take the reel off. Therefore, being able to transport a rod ready rigged will maximise your fishing time.
Many anglers enjoy various forms of land-based fishing using lures and baits targeted at an array of species. Sometimes anglers may try several locations during an outing, especially when casting egi for squid, popping for whiting, fishing
the shallows for flathead or probing lighted areas of the Swan River for bream. Unrigging your rod to store it securely in a tube between each location can be rather tiresome. Being able to store your rod ready rigged with a lure or terminal tackle still
attached will protect your rod and also eliminate the chance of a hook penetrating the car’s upholstery or another passenger. After trying several options, I have come up with a rod and reel storage tube that works a treat and is simple and cheap to make.
2
1
The tools required to complete this project are fairly basic: a drill and an assortment of drill bits from 4-13mm, a hacksaw, coarse sandpaper, file, marker pen, a screwdriver and a spanner to suit the M4 screws and nuts. If you don’t have a drill and drill bits, a sturdy pair of snips will do a sufficient, yet cruder, job. The tools are so simple that this project could even be attempted by younger anglers, with adult supervision.
Materials required are a length of PVC pipe (50mm in this case), two end caps and a relevant sized PVC connector. These can all be purchased at a hardware or plumbing supply shop. The PVC pipe can usually be purchased in a 1m length (only suitable for 2 piece rods of 1.95m or less in length) or a 3m length, which will allow you to make at least two tubes for rods to 2.4m. You will also need a bungee strap, button and two screws, which can be purchased at a chandlery outlet. I used M4 (5/32”) 316 stainless bolts with M4 Nyloc nuts, which were just long enough to get the nuts on after attaching the bungee loop and button to the pipe.
4
3
The size of PVC pipe will be dictated by the size of the lowest (stripper) guide on your rod. Obviously the tube must be wider than the guide so the rod can be slid in. For this rod I used 50mm PVC pipe, you may need to use the 65, 80 or 100mm. A 3m length of the 50mm PVC cost around $18 but I was able to make two tubes with this. End caps, connectors and other bits needed to completely make two tubes brought the cost to around $40 total, $20 per tube.
5
Place the connector beside the rod so that the lower edge of it is level with the reel foot (stem). Mark the position on your PVC pipe that coincides with the middle of this connector. This will be the second cut. 36
JANUARY 2020
This rod is 7ft (2.12m) total length, or around 1.1m long when separated. I made my tube around 1.2m long so I could use it for other rods that may have different length butts to this one. Rod wraps can be used to hold the two sections of your rod securely together. Lay your rod beside the pipe and mark the overall length you want the tube to be. This will be the first cut.
6
Cut the pipe all the way through with your hacksaw at these two marks. Use sandpaper to smooth off and slightly taper the lip of the PVC where you cut the pipe.
Tech Tricks
7
Put the connector onto the shorter section of PVC (which will encase the rod butt) and mark on the pipe where the end of the connector will be. About 10mm below this line, drill a hole with your smallest drill bit. Widen the hole more using the next sized drill bit.
8
Take the connector off and use your largest drill bit (13mm in this case) to enlarge the hole further. This hole needs to be a fraction wider than the reel foot – you may need to use a file to widen it if you don’t have a large enough drill bit.
10 9
Use a hacksaw or cutters to cut a slot from the edge of the PVC pipe down to each side of the drill hole. Check to ensure it is large enough to accommodate the reel foot as shown. Use the file and sandpaper to smooth the edges of the slot.
11
Secure the bungy and button in place using your M4 screws and Nyloc nuts. Ensure the screws do not protrude from the nuts or they may scratch your rod as you are putting it in and out. If they are too long, then either use shorter ones or remove, cut to length and re-insert. Your rod can be inserted into the tube (even with a lure on) before the rear section is slid on with the reel stem positioned in the slot. As you slide the two ends of the tube over your rod, ensure there is a little slack in the line because it needs to come back against the reel stem.
Put the end caps on both pieces of pipe and the connector onto the longer section. Tap these firmly down into position. Use some PVC pipe glue to secure them if you wish. Position the bungy strap and button as shown so that the bungy will stretch slightly to secure over the button. Drill the two holes where these will be affixed with your 4mm bit. I prefer to put the clasp on the side of the tube at 90º to the reel foot slot so the small nuts inside will not rub the rod blank.
12
Once the two sections are slotted together and the bungy clipped over the button, you can add a quality reel bag to further protect your reel. This particular one will go around the rod tube and fasten. The neoprene flap also covers the bungy and button. You can paint the tube if you wish or attach a few stickers. Once at your destination, you only need to take the rod out of the tube, connect the two sections together and you are ready to fish. This tube is not only convenient but, more importantly, it will protect your ready-rigged rod from mishaps while in transit. JANUARY 2020
37
WHAT’S NEW FISHING STORM ARASHI GLIDE BAIT
1
Engineered to achieve the perfect lifelike swimming action, the Storm Arashi Glide Bait lets you take advantage of one of the hottest, most effective techniques for targeting trophy flathead, mulloway, barra and Murray cod. The Arashi Glide Bait is very responsive, with an exaggerated swimming action that flows from side to side with every turn of the handle and every twitch of the tip. It is very stable and has a super slow sink rate (.4ft/sec), and can be fished effectively at all speeds, allowing anglers to speed up or slow down to match the behaviour of the fish. Made to target the largest predators, this lure is built with a durable triple-pin construction and swivelling hook hangers that prevent fish from gaining leverage during a fight. Included with a snap and an extra tail that will keep your bait in running order, even after vicious strikes, the Arashi Glide Bait offers a high-quality alternative to overpriced, hard-to-find glide baits. It’s available now in eight fish-catching colours. www.stormfishing.com
BLACK MAGIC UTILITY BOX
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Black Magic has added a new waterproof Utility Box to their range. One of the main differences with the latest model is that it has a seal fixed to the lid designed to keep the contents dry, and less likely to suffer from water damage or corrosion. There are two latches on the front and one on each side. When combined with the two sturdy hinges, they lock down securely, ensuring a good, tight seal. There are 13 compartments in the Utility Box for storing an array of tackle, some of which have removable sidewalls, allowing the box to accommodate larger items. This box measures 270mm x 170mm x 45mm, and has been specifically chosen to fit into Black Magic’s Tackle Bags and Tackle Packs. Visit the Black Magic Tackle website for more information on the Utility Box and a range of other tackle storage solutions. You can also find more information, news and catch photos on their Facebook page (www. facebook.com/blackmagictackle), check them out on Instagram (@blackmagictackle) or subscribe to the Black Magic YouTube channel. www.blackmagictackle.com
SAMAKI ZING XTREME V2
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Zing Xtreme’s amazing blanks are only one of the features that contributes to the series’ success. The smart Samaki technology of MDC (Multi Direction Carbon layer) improves strength, and the X Power weave construction gives you precision casting, great action in the fight and enough grunt to get you out of sticky situations. Other features include Fuji KW and LKW series guides, Fuji TVS and VSS reel seats on spin models, Fuji PTS and SK reel seats on baitcast models, and custom super-hard EVA camouflaged grips with superior carbon locking rings. Zing Xtreme caters to all fishing enthusiasts, with 7’0” spin models in extra light, light, medium and medium heavy 1-piece and 2-piece that sit alongside the 7’6” extra light solid tip flats rod, and 7’6” extra heavy offshore rod. Cast models range from 5’4” through to 7’0” in medium, medium heavy, and heavy, covering everything from bass to barra. www.samaki.com.au 42
JANUARY 2020
PRODUCT GUIDE
X-RAP MAGNUM PREY
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The Rapala X-Rap Magnum Prey is a compact, long cast stickbait that works with a variety of techniques, from subsurface sweeps to skipping on top – just add a boiling school of pelagics, cast and repeat. This lure is weighted extra heavy for extreme casting distances, and features a darting baitfish action. It’s an ideal choice for fast and aggressive predators feeding on top or in the shallows. Lipless design and fluttering action on the drop allow natural baitfish-imitating presentations. On fast retrieve, the lure skips on the surface like a fleeing baitfish. Equipped with VMC 3X Strong Coastal Black Trebles, the 100mm Magnum Prey weighs 41g and comes in 12 proven colours, including UV colours. Built heavy and aerodynamic for extreme casting distances, it delivers even in the most demanding saltwater fishing conditions, and stands up to unforgiving punishment. Other features include through-wire construction, quality X-Rap finishes, saltwater prey patterns, and 3D holographic eyes. Price: approx. SRP $30 www.rapala.com.au
WILSON CAMO BACKPACK
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Designed specifically for fishing, the Wilson Camo Series Backpack makes life easier. Side access to the internal cargo area allows anglers to easily keep the backpack over one shoulder while accessing the internal cargo area – there’s no need to completely remove the backpack. Other features include three tackle trays inside the main cargo area. There are two standard large trays, and one large tray (with no dividers) for bigger lures such as swimbaits and surface lures. There are also four external zippered pockets for accessories such as leader and fishing gloves, as well as two Velcro secured tool holders and a massive front flap with even more storage for things such as plastics and spare hooks. An external sunglass holder and a retractable tool lanyard are also included. The top pocket has elastic webbing for securing jumpers or rain jackets, and the adjustable shoulder straps are padded for comfort and feature a chest strap. The sturdy zippers are easy to open, even with cold hands. As well as being ideal for hiking, this backpack serves as a complete kit for a boat. www.wilsonfishing.com
PALMS TURN POP
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
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The new Palms Turn Pop is designed to target smaller species like bream and whiting on the surface. Fitted with a treble on the belly and twin assist hooks at the rear, this proven set-up will convert more strikes into hooked fish. The rear assist hooks are also fitted with red rubber legs, giving the presentation more appeal on the pause. Retrieve options include pop and long pause, quick short sharp pops, and consistent skipping on the surface. The Palms Turn Pop measures 50mm and weighs 3.9g. There are six transparent colours in the series, covering all conditions – clear water, dirty water, bright light or low light. For more information on this and other Palms lures, visit the EJ Todd website. www.ejtodd.com.au
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PRODUCT GUIDE
WHAT’S NEW FISHING
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
DAIWA SHORE SPARTAN
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Daiwa Shore Spartan lures are designed with a dimpled body that helps you cast further, while their through-wire construction and durable 1.8mm ABS thick plastic bodies ensure ultimate durability. Featuring Owner split rings and hooks, there are four models – the 140mm Power Splash popper, 140mm floating Rough Ride stickbait, and the 120 and 140mm Break Through sinking stickbaits. The Power Splash cup-face popper is capable of spitting a large amount of water, however it can also be retrieved fast, creating an enticing bubble trail and wobble. The Rough Ride stickbait has a tungsten weight at the rear, producing the perfect floatation level to create the tantalising dive and ‘S’ wave action. The lures’ dimpled design acts like a golf ball travelling through the air, aiding the lure to track straight and true, and it also aids the bait’s motion subsurface. This design characteristic is most evident with the Break Through sinking stickbait, which can be retrieved ultra fast without breaking the water’s surface – a key trait for targeting high-speed pelagics. The Break Through also features a very low centre of gravity for enhanced performance and tracking. www.daiwafishing.com.au
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TALICA II 20 AND 25 REELS
The iconic Shimano Talica II 20 and 25 models have received a welcome upgrade for 2019 with the introduction of a spare mono line cam. The reels are still factory fitted with a braided line cam that provides a smooth drag curve to suit anglers spooling with braid. For those who run a full spool of mono IGFA line, a spare mono cam is available inside the box to make the drag curve ideal for the preferred line class once changed over. All of the other Shimano features that make the Talica II reels so sought after have remained the same, but now the reels’ drags can be set more accurately so you can be even more confident when you hook that gamefish of a lifetime. Price: SRP $1010-$1030 www.shimanofish.com.au
OKUMA KOMODO BAITCAST RODS
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The Komodo SS baitcast reel has a reputation for strength, reliability and stopping power. The matching series of rods follow the same design principles, from their quality finish, 30T Toray carbon blank construction and Seaguide Hero Hi-Grade Low Frame Casting Guides, to the attention to detail in bind and metal component highlights, and custom ergonomic reel seat for increased ‘feel’. Available in a selection of models that cover heavy bass fishing and extracting mangrove jack, to taking on monster impoundment barra and bucket-mouth Murray cod, this series of rods will impress in terms of both finish and performance. For those throwing big swimbaits, there’s even a model for you, without the insane price tag commonly associated with swimbait rods. This model (KM-C-801H) is 8ft of pure casting and stopping power, with an 8-15kg rating and casting weight rating of 1-4oz. The other four models are: KM-C-601MH (med-heavy action, 6’0”, 6-8kg line rating, 1/43/4oz casting weight), KM-C-661MH (medheavy, 6’6”, 6-8kg, 1/4-3/4oz), KM-C-661H (heavy, 6’6”, 8-15kg, 1/2-2oz), KM-C-661XH (X-heavy, 6’6”, 8-20kg, 1-4oz). Price: SRP $129.90-$149.90 tackletactics.com.au
BALISTA TREMOR
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The BalistaTremor is an Australian creation designed for one purpose: to catch big native fish. At 200mm in length, the Tremor has a 3-piece jointed body, and internally it is fitted with advanced electronics with a rechargeable battery, with an in-built vibrator to mimic an injured fish. Of course, it also features Balista’s trademark LED technology that will entice the most aggressive reaction bite. The Balista also comes with three interchangeable bibs – crawling, wake and diving swim bait. Whether it is trophy Murray cod, barramundi or any other big bait eating predator you are chasing, the Balista Tremor has been designed to get bites from temperamental big fish. On its first day in action at Lake Mulwala – a notoriously pressured fishery – it produced four Murray cod between 95-110cm, at a time when it was unheard of to get so many bites from big fish in the one day. To see the Tremor in action, search for ‘Balista Tremor’ on YouTube. You can also see the rest of the range on the Balista Lures website, or on their Facebook page. www.balista.com.au
JIG STAR KATANA BRAID 8X
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Jig Star evolved after its founder and acclaimed Jigging expert Chris Wong in New Zealand had spent many years jigging with some of the world’s most renowned big fish anglers from Japan, USA, Taiwan, SE Asia, South Africa and New Zealand. Hundreds of hours were spent testing products on ridiculous sized yellowtail kingfish and humungous hapuka. Katana Jigging and Popping Braid is an 8-Carrier high pitch Dyneema line. Katana Braid is a multi-coloured braid that changes colour every 10m and features Micro Pitch braiding technology, with an advanced coating process. This helps produce a braid that is extremely strong, while still being thin and having minimal guide friction. Katana Braid is available in 300m and 1000m spools in PE 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10 breaking strains. To find out more on the Jig Star braid range visit the Juro OzPro Tackle website. www.jurofishing.com
DAIWA SEAJIGGER
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Seajigger has been one of Daiwa’s most popular surf and rock fishing line of rods, and this year the series has been updated to be better than ever before. HVF carbon is where it all begins, with Daiwa’s low resin, high strength, reduced weight, high density carbon the foundation for a series that is stripped of unwanted weight, and loaded with all the power that you need. Daiwa’s X45 blank technology further enhances Seajigger’s design and performance level by eliminating blank twist and distortion to increase casting distance. Design features include ultra-thin Winn wrapped butt section for blank protection, minimalist EVA grips, and Fuji reel seat, while Fuji Alconite Lowrider stripper guides and new lightweight LKW guides provide superb casting ability delivering anglers tangle-free casting all day long. Classic in style, and advanced in design, function and application, Seajigger offers diversity, strength and exceptional value like only Daiwa can. www.daiwafishing.com.au
Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au JANUARY 2020
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WHAT’S NEW FISHING LUMICA L.E.D ROD LIGHTS
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Lumica Japan are the developers and inventors of the chemical light stick, and they have now developed a superior range of LED lights for anglers targeting fish at night and in low light conditions. The Lumica L.E.D Rod Tip Lights are perfect for fishing at night, and simply clip onto your rod tip. They are quite small so they don’t weigh down or affect the tip action of your rod. The lights are available in two colours, sunset red (visibility of 60m) and sea green (visibility of 100m). They are both available in two sizes so they will fit most rods on the market, and they are super bright and re-useable. The lights are very easy to use and also feature an on/off switch so you can turn them off easily when not in use. The LED rod lights require a lithium BR/CR 425 battery, and will last approximately 12 hours with continual use. To find out more on the Lumica range visit the Juro OzPro Tackle website. www.jurofishing.com
OKUMA SABIKI UTG ROD
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PRODUCT GUIDE
LIVE FIBRE BLADE N TAILS
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The Samaki Vibelicious is now available in two new sizes and five new colours. The new 85mm size is designed to target the likes of bream, flathead, jewfish, yellowbelly and bass, while the 150mm is a heavier weight vibe to target offshore reef fish and bigger estuary brutes such as barramundi and jewfish. Each model’s colour selection has been created for different target species in all locations around Australia. The new colour range includes natural baitfish colours and bright attractants with UV additives. Introducing Hardy Head, Coral Trout, Stripey Snapper, Fairy Floss UV, and Ghost Bait UV. The Vibelicious Fork Tail comes in 70mm, 85mm, 100mm, 125mm and 150mm sizes. The 100mm and 125mm have now been upgraded with the new YS81 Decoy Hooks and new Decoy EX Strong Split Rings. The 70mm, 85mm and 150mm are all available with BKK super sharp hooks and Decoy EX Split Rings. As always, every Vibelicious contains premium Japanese stainless wire and is made of the toughest 10X super stretch material, for maximum durability. www.samaki.com.au
BANDICOOT HEADLAMP
BETTER TACKLE FLASHER RIGS
The Knog Bandicoot Headlamp isn’t like other headlamps. It uses silicone to seamlessly merge the strap, body and LEDs together, rather than fabrics or multiple elastics which are fiddly and unreliable. The silicone band is tangleproof, won’t lose strength, and doesn’t need constant adjusting. The durable Bandicoot is super lightweight at just 60g, with a compact and sleek design. The headlamp incorporates quad optics which are integrated into a single-piece chassis, removing the need for a clunky hinge. The four sets of LEDs are optimally placed for their each individual purpose – a high beam to see with, elliptical beams for broad ambient light, a red light for darker environments, and down lights for reading. Now, with the ModeMaker app, users can experience added functionality and program their Bandicoot Headlamp from a library of light modes - with 100 lumens being its maximum output. The Bandicoot Headlamp also offers USB charging capabilities, meaning you can top up the battery at any time and always begin your adventures at maximum brightness. Price: SRP $59.99 escape2.com.au
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The Okuma Sabiki UTG rod is designed for jigging sabiki rigs when gathering bait, with the design allowing the rig to be wound inside the rod to minimise snagging and tangling when not in use. This rod boasts quality components, and has been designed from the ground up to overcome the shortcomings of other sabiki rods. A slight increase in length allows more brands of jigs to be wound completely inside the rod, while the slimmer design increases the action of the rod and in turn the fishcatching action of the jig. Designed to be used with either spin or overhead reels, the Sabiki UTG is a 2-piece design for easy storage, with a butt join rather than the traditional join above the bottom line guide, which can make line feeding difficult and cause snagging of swivels on sabiki jigs. The tip of the Sabiki UTG is also uniquely designed to remove the snagging that occurs both on the outside of the tip and internally where the tip joins the rod blank on traditional sabiki rods. Price: SRP $79.90 www.okuma.com.au
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The Live Fibre Blade N Tails series takes in just about every lure casting scenario available to Australian anglers. Built on Toray graphite blanks and fitted with Fuji Faslite guides, the new Blade N Tails series has been modelled on the popular BNT series. Features include specialised skeleton reel seats that allow the angler’s hand direct access to the blank for the ultimate in sensitivity, actions that have been specifically developed to enhance lure casting and the effective working of lures, and a range of one- and two-piece options that allow the travelling angler to fish with a quality stick built for Aussie fishing. There are 18 rods in the range, with everything from ultralight 4-8lb spin models through to a 30-60lb heavy baitcaster. The range will be expanded as demand heats up for this series. www.wilsonfishing.com
NEW VIBELICIOUS ARRIVALS
PRODUCT GUIDE
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
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When Australian fishing rig specialist Josh Price designed Better Tackle’s flasher rigs, he had one thing in mind: to make every product better than anything else on the market. Better Tackle’s flasher rigs feature a rapidrelease rig-winding board, making it quicker for you to get out on the water when the fish are on the chew. Tried and tested two-tone colour selections, along with lumo eyes that mimic baitfish eye-shine, give you the ability to match your offering to what your target species is chomping on. The unique design gives this flasher the perfect shape, flash and silhouette to attract finned predators, while still keeping its shape fish after fish. The outstanding strength on each rig’s knot and leader is no accident, nor is the quality of the hooks used. Every component and design feature of every rig has been carefully considered, to maximize catch rates and longevity. And remember that flasher rigs are no longer just for snapper – they are perfect for a range of species, including coral trout, red emperor and nannygai. Price: from SRP $8 www.bettertackle.com
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PRODUCT GUIDE
WHAT’S NEW FISHING
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
Obsession Spinnerbaits now obsessed with bass NTENT CO
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At the time I realised that he did have a few styles that could crossover into the tackle box of someone looking to catch Australian bass. They were his Mini Single and Mini Twin Spin models, of which a few had to come home with me. Fast forward two years and the Mini Single has become a part of my go-to bass fishing arsenal. I have also gotten to know Ray better, even fishing his home waters (Lake Mulwala) with him. During that two-year period he was always keen to create a range that had a bass focus, and the Bass Six Pack was born. In the range there are six bass-specific colours based around
CA N T H E Q R
The GOAT colour in action.
RE ONLINE MO
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Several years ago I met Raymond Parry from Obsession Spinnerbaits at the Australian Lure Expo in Ipswich. He’s a down to earth Aussie lure maker, designing lures to catch Australian native fish. Initially, the main focus of his spinnerbaits was targeting Murray cod and golden perch, and with my love of using spinnerbaits I promptly tested a few for the magazines. You can check out that review at www.tacklejunkie.fish.
TESTED
Raymond’s Mini Single model. The new spinnerbaits are available in three weights – 1/4oz, 1/2oz and 5/8oz – and are a single Colorado blade configuration. The six colours are GOAT, WB, DONC, GM, BG and PBJ. A COMBINATION OF ROBUST AND FINESSE Spinnerbaits for bass in Australia have come a long way. Gone are the days where large profile, clunky lures were good enough. Bass anglers now demand smaller profiles with quality components. From the instant that the spinnerbait hits the water, we want it to work to our advantage. The spinnerbaits in the Obsession bass series fall somewhere in the middle of finesse and robust. The use of a single Colorado blade reduces the footprint of the lure while
The PBJ colour, or peanut butter jelly as the author’s youngest daughter calls it, is a natural colour with a purple highlight through the skirt. colours, so GOAT and PBJ naturally appealed to me. However, the baitfish profiles of WB and GM quickly became favorites of mine in waterways like Somerset Dam and Wivenhoe Dam here in Southeast Queensland, as they contain large populations of bony bream. More recently I have tested the BG (black and gold) and DONC colours. The surprise packet has been the DONC colour, which is a natural colour with a chartreuse highlight through it. It has quickly rivaled the GOAT as a favourite, and who doesn’t need a Donk (reference Crocodile Dundee). If you scan the QR code on this page you’ll see a video that takes you through the colours and has some fishing action from my field testing. Alternatively, you can go to YouTube and search for ‘Obsession Spinnerbaits’. Although I have been mainly targeting bass, and have caught bass on every colour, the Six Pack spinnerbaits have also accounted for a number of other species like golden perch, Mary River cod and southern saratoga. Due to the slightly more robust style of the lure, I have no doubt that they would deal with a Murray cod as well. To view the full range, find your local stockist or place an order online, head to www.obsessionspinnerbaits. com. They are well worth checking out!
All the six pack colours are ideal for our native species. This is 54cm of Lake Somerset golden caught on the GOAT colour.
It pays to bring a DONC.
maximising the flash and vibration. The wire and even the hook are on the heavier side, while the skirt quality and style is finesse orientated. This combination is the key to the effectiveness of these spinnerbaits. They work well as soon as they hit the water, they will deal with a lot of abuse, and most importantly they have consistently caught fish for me on many different waterways and in many different situations. THE COLOURS Although the colour range isn’t huge, this may well be a blessing in disguise. The six colours are a good mixture of baitfish and natural colours, and the head colours are also cleverly matched to the skirts, with some having highlights that extend into the skirt colour. There is no questioning the bass appeal of the colours available. ON THE WATER I have been using the GM, WB, GOAT and PBJ colours for more than 12 months now. I have always fished natural
WB will be a very popular colour in lakes that have large quantities of baitfish.
JANUARY 2020
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Trades, Services, Charter BAIT & TACKLE
DONGARA & GERALDTON Dongara Sport & Tackle Dongara (08) 9927 1196
METRO
Geraldton Sports Centre (08) 9921 3664
Castaway Tackle Malaga (08) 9248 3800 Earlybird Bait Rockingham (08) 9527 3333 Gun-Mart & Tackle Midvale (08) 9274 5699
Getaway Outdoors Geraldton (08) 9965 3766
CARNARVON Carnarvon Tackle & Marine (08) 9941 4161
TackleHQ Kingsley (08) 9309 4200 WA Bait Supply O’Connor (08) 9314 1755 Tackle West Beckenham (08) 9350 6278
KALBARRI
Tackle World Exmouth (08) 9949 1315 Exmouth Tackle & Camping Supplies (08) 9949 1179
BUSSELTON 2 Oceans Tackle (08) 9752 4924 Geographe Camping & Tackle World (08) 9754 2909
BOAT HIRE BlueSun2 Boat Charters Ardross 0405 353 353 Boating West O’Connor 0429 887 798 Boat Hire Perth Mindarie 0403 095 868
Bluewater Tackle Mindarie (08) 9407 9766 Bluewater Tackle World Joondalup (08) 6244 0344 Bluewater Tackle World Morley (08) 9375 9800
FISHING GUIDES/CHARTERS Achievement Charters Fremantle 0418 655 188 Apache Charters South Fremantle (08) 9339 2432
Bluewater Tackle World Myaree (08) 9330 7766
Black Jack Charters Bandy Creek 0429 106 960
Compleat Angler Nedlands (08) 9389 1337
Blue Horizon Fishing Charters Exmouth 08) 9949 1620
Dawe’s Bait & Tackle Mandurah (08) 9534 6661
Blue Juice Charters (08) 9401 4666
Fishing WA Pro Tackle Wangara (08) 9409 2253
Diversity Bluewater Adventures Exmouth Exmouth 0488 009 989
Hillarys Boat & Tackle Hillarys (08) 9401 4331 Sportsmarine Bunbury (08) 9721 4961 Tackle World Miami (08) 9534 5533
Duke Charters Condingup (08) 9076 6223 Esperance Diving And Fishing Esperance (08) 9071 5111
Tim’s Tackle Plus Bassendean (08) 6161 0044
Evolution Fishing Charters 0477 901 445
Anglers Fishing World South Fremantle (08) 9433 4768
Fly Fishing Frontiers Exmouth 0427 366 142 Great Southern Discovery Albany 0455 105 127
Anglers Fishing World Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour Mews Road, Fremantle WA 6160
(08) 9433 4768 www.anglersfishingworld.com.au Getaway Outdoors Balcatta (08) 9344 7343 Getaway Outdoors Cockburn (08) 9417 4644 Getaway Outdoors Joondalup (08) 9300 1330 Getaway Outdoors Kelmscott (08) 9495 4444 Getaway Outdoors Mandurah (08) 9581 8877 Jet Cycles & Compleat Angler Gosnells (08) 9398 2359 Tackle World & Outdoors Mandurah (08) 9581 6953
ROCKINGHAM Compleat Angler & Camping World -Rockingham (08) 9528 5255 Port Kennedy Cycles and Fishing (08) 9524 6774 Whitey’s Tackle & Camping Australind (08) 9797 0762
ALBANY
Jazz Charters Fremantle 0433 521 297 Kalbarri land Based fishing Carters 0418930695 Mills Charters Hillarys (08) 9246 5334 Perth Fishing Safaris 0422 686 363 Set The Hook Exmouth 0433 049 988 SHIKARI Charters Fremantle 0412 131 958 Spinners Charters Emu Point (08) 9844 1906 Specialist Fishing Charters 0407 259 399
SPECIALIST FISHING CHARTERS FAD’s Squiding and Whiting Crayfish (craypots) and Whiting Deepwater Wrecks / Samson Fish
Departs Fremantle
Bookings/Enquiries 0407 259 399 Tailored Treks - Lancelin 0427 941 126
Albany Rods & Tackle (08) 9841 1231
Top Gun Charters EXMOUTH 0418 925 131
Trailblazers Albany (08) 9841 7859
West End Charters Winthrop WA 6150 (08) 9332 4303
ESPERANCE Esperance Camping & Workwear Esperance (08) 9071 2142 Southern Sports & Tackle (08) 9071 3022 Tatey’s Bait ‘n’ Tackle Castletown (08) 9071 5003
ONLINE TACKLE PRODUCTS FG Wizz www.fgwizz.com.au
Bathers Paradise Caravan Park Esperance (08) 9071 1014 Esperance Chalet Village Bandy Creek (08) 9071 1861 Munglinup Beach Holiday Park Munglinup (08) 9075 1155 Ocean Beach Holiday Units Esperance (08) 9071 5942 Pine Grove Holiday Park Esperance (08) 9071 4100 Pink Lake Tourist Park Nulsen (08) 9071 2424 Bremer Bay Beaches Resort & Tourist Park Bremer Bay (08) 9837 4290 Hopetoun Caravan Park Hopetoun (08) 9838 3096 Wavecrest Village & Tourist Park Hopetoun (08) 9838 3888
ALBANY Albany Happy Days Caravan Park King River (08) 9844 3267 Albany Holiday Park Albany (08) 9841 7800 Albany Holiday Units Middleton Beach (08) 9841 7817 Cheynes Beach Caravan Park Cheynes (08) 9846 1247 Emu Beach Chalets Emu Point (08) 9844 8889 Havana Villas Albany (08) 9844 1085 King River Palms Caravan Park Willyung (08) 98443232 Lilacs Waterfront villas & cottages Robinson (08) 9841 2390 Two Peoples Caravan Park Kalgan (08) 9846 4024
DENMARK Denmark Rivermouth Caravan Park Denmark (08) 9848 1262 Denmark Waterfront Denmark (08) 9848 1147 Karri Aura Caravan Park & Motel Suites Shadforth (08) 9848 2200
WALPOLE – MANJIMUP – PEMBERTON Big Brook Arboretum Pemberton (08) 9776 1207 Coalmine Beach Holiday Park Walpole (08) 9840 1026 Manjimup Central Caravan Park & Deli Manjimup (08) 9777 2355 Nornalup Riverside Chalets Nornalup (08) 9840 1107 One Tree Bridge Chalets Manjimup (08) 9777 1196 Peaceful Bay Chalets Peaceful Bay (08) 9840 8169 Rest Point Holiday Village Walpole (08) 9840 1032 Riverside Retreat Walpole, (08) 9840 1255 Warren Way Caravan Park Balbarrup (08) 9771 1060
AUGUSTA Flinders Bay Caravan Park Augusta (08) 9780 5636 Hamelin Bay Holiday Park Hamelin Bay (08) 9758 5540 Molloy Caravan Park Kudardup (08) 9758 4515 Sheoak Chalets Augusta Augusta (08) 9758 1958
MARGARET RIVER
Port Bouvard Charters Wannanup 0477 347 465
Demersal / Reef Fish Exclusive Fishing Charter Deep Drop
ESPERANCE
HOPETOUN – BREMER BAY
Kalbarri Sports & Dive (08) 9937 1126
EXMOUTH
Baitmate-Bricap Wangara (08) 9309 5474
HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION
Gracetown Caravan Park Gracetown (08) 9755 5301 Margaret River Tourist Park (08) 9757 2180 Prevelly Caravan Park Prevelly Park (08) 9757 2374 Riverview Tourist Park Margaret River (08) 9757 2270
YALLINGUP – DUNSBOROUGH Caves Caravan Park Yallingup (08) 9755 2196 Dunsborough Beach Cottages (08) 9756 8885 Yallingup Beach Holiday Park 1800 220 002
BUSSELTON Amblin Holiday Park Busselton (08) 9755 4079 Busselton Beachfron Busselton (08) 9755 2607 Busselton Holiday Village Busselton (08) 9752 4499 Busselton Villas & Caravan Park Busselton (08) 9752 1175 Fourseasons Holiday Park Busselton (08) 9755 4082 Geographe Bay Holiday Park Busselton (08) 9752 4396 Lazy Days Holiday Park Busselton (08) 9752 1780 Sandy Bay Holiday Park Busselton (08) 9752 2003
BUNBURY Binningup Beach Caravan Park Bunbury (08) 9720 1057 Brunswick Junction Caravan Park Bunbury (08) 9726 1544 Bunbury Glade Caravan Park Bunbury 1800 113 800 Discovery Parks - Bunbury (08) 9795 7100 Riverside Cabin Park Bunbury (08) 9725 1234 Taralea Farm Bunbury (08) 9728 1252 Waterloo Village Caravan Park Bunbury (08) 9725 4434
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. 54
JANUARY 2020
Boats & Guided Fishing Tours Directory MANDURAH Belvedere Caravan Park Mandurah (08) 9535 1213 Estuary Hideaway Holiday Park 0407 838 061 Footprints Preston Beach (08) 9739 1111 Lake Clifton Caravan Park (08) 9739 1255 Lake Navarino Holiday Park (08) 9733 3000 Mandurah Ocean Marina Chalets (08) 9535 8173 Miami Holiday Park (08) 9534 2127 Peel Caravan Park (08) 9535 4343 Pinjarra Caravan Park Mandurah (08) 9531 1374 Pinjarrah Holiday Park (08) 9531 1604 The Dwellingup Chalet and Caravan Park (08) 9538 1157 Timber Top Caravan Park (08) 9535 1292 Waroona Caravan Village (08) 9733 1518 Waters Edge Caravan Park 0427 281 622
MOORE RIVER – LANCELIN – CERVANTES Branchys Holiday Homes Guilderton (08) 9577 1321 Experience Lancelin Holiday Park (08) 9655 1056 Guilderton Caravan Park (08) 9577 1021
JURIEN BAY – GREEN HEAD – LEEMAN Green Head Caravan Park Green Head (08) 9953 1131 Jurien Bay Tourist Park Jurien Bay (08) 9652 1595 Leeman Caravan Park Leeman (08) 9953 1080
DONGARA – GERALDTON Batavia Coast Caravan Park (08) 9938 1222 Double Beach Caravan Park (08) 9921 5845 Horrocks Beach Caravan Park (08) 9934 3039 Leander Reef Holiday Park Port Denison (08) 9927 1840 Port Denison Holiday Units (08) 9927 1104 Seaspray Beach Holiday Park Dongara (08) 9927 1165
KALBARRI Kalbarri Anchorage Caravan Park Kalbarri (08) 9937 1181 Kalbarri Beach Bungalows A & B Kalbarri (08) 9937 0400 Kalbarri Blue Ocean Villas Kalbarri (08) 9937 2442 Murchison caravan park Kalbarri (08) 9937 0400 Murchison House Station Kalbarri (08) 9937 1998 Murchison River Caravan Park Kalbarri (08) 9937 1005
SHARK BAY Bay Lodge Denham Shark Bay WA (08) 9948 1278 Denham Seaside Caravan Park, (08) 9948 1242 Oceanside Village Denham Shark Bay (08) 9948 3003 RAC Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort (08) 9948 1320 Shark Bay Caravan Park (08) 9948 1387
CARNARVON Capricorn Holiday Park (08) 9941 8153 Carnarvon Caravan Park (08) 9941 8101 Coral Coast Tourist Park (08) 9941 1438 Norwesta Lifestyle Park (08) 9941 1277 Outback Oasis Caravan Park (08) 9941 1439 Wintersun Caravan and Tourist Park (08) 9941 8150
CORAL BAY Bayview Coral Bay (08) 9385 6655 Ningaloo Club (08) 9948 5100 Ningaloo Reef Resort (08) 9942 5934 Peoples Park (08) 9942 5933
EXMOUTH Exmouth Escape Resort (08) 9949 4800 Mantarays Ningaloo Beach Resort, Exmouth (08) 9949 0000 Ningaloo Caravan and Holiday Resort (08) 9949 2377 Ningaloo Lighthouse Holiday Park (08) 9949 1478 Yardie Homestead Caravan Park (08) 9949 1389
ONSLOW Discovery Parks - Onslow (08) 9184 6007 Ocean View Caravan Park (08) 9184 6053
DAMPIER Aspen Karratha Village Baynton (08) 9185 2726 Dampier Transit Caravan Park (08) 9183 1109 Discovery Parks - Balmoral, Karratha (08) 9185 3628 Discovery Parks - Pilbara, Karratha (08) 9185 1855 Karratha Apartments Karratha (08) 9143 9222 Karratha Caravan Park (08) 9185 1012 Karratha Village Karratha 1300 321 669 Searipple Village Karratha Bulgarra (08) 9158 7400
PORT HEDLAND Blackrock Tourist Park South Hedland (08) 9172 3444 Discovery Parks Port Hedland (08) 9173 1271 Landing Resort Port Hedland (08) 9172 4111 Port Tourist Park Port Hedland (08) 9172 4111
BROOME Broome Caravan Park (08) 9192 1776 Broome Vacation Village Caravan Park Broome (08) 9192 1057 Cable Beach Caravan Park Broome (08) 9192 2066 Discovery Parks - Broome (08) 9192 1366 Tarangau Caravan Park Broome (08) 9193 5084
WELDING & MANUFACTURING CSD Designs Bayswater 0407 772 010
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Kimberley Entrance Caravan Park (08) 9193 1055 West Kimberley Lodge & Caravan Park (08) 9191 1031
KUNUNURRA Discovery Parks - Lake Kununurra (08) 9168 1031 El Questro Wilderness Park 1800 837 168 Hidden Valley Caravan Park (08) 9168 1790 Ivanhoe Village Caravan Resort (08) 9169 1995 Kona Lakeside Caravan Park (08) 9161 1139 Kununurra Lakeside Resort (08) 9169 1092 Lake Argyle Caravan Park (08) 9168 7777 Lake Argyle Resort (08) 9168 7777 Town Caravan Park (08) 9168 1763 Wyndham Caravan Park (08) 9161 1064
MARINE MECHANICS Bay Marine Maintenance Crawley (08) 9386 7059 Boat Fix Balcatta (08) 9240 8778 Boat Lifters Blue HQ Perth (08) 9239 9333 Bravo Marine Services Bayswater (08) 9272 9300 Bravo Marine Services Bayswater (08) 9272 9300 Chandlers Marine Service Wangara (08) 9303 9366 Falcon Services Australia Midvale 0458 852 591 GP Marine Cockburn Central 0408 913 104 GP Marine Cockburn Central 0408 913 104 Hitech Marine Wangara (08) 9309 2888 Mandurah Outboards, Mandurah (08) 9581 7224 Matich Marine East Fremantle (08) 9339 7722 Mobile Marine WA Osborne Park 0428 225 877 Parker Marine Fremantle (08) 9336 6979 Parker Marine Fremantle (08) 9336 6979 Perth Boat Mechanics Huntingdale 0405 593 786 Platinum Boating Maintenance Wangara 0402 477 656 Pleisure Marine Maintenance O’Connor (08) 9337 9569 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 Westmarine Boating Services Fremantle WA 0425 177 700
MARINE ACCESSORIES All Boats and Caravans Kingsley (08) 9309 4200 Challenge Batteries Osborne Park (08) 9446 6122 Crackpots Marine Supplies O’Connor (08) 9337 2211 JPW Marine Wholesale Distributors Perth (08) 6253 3000 Offshore Marine Guildford (08) 6278 1299 Searano Marine Malaga (08) 9248 2242 Whitworths Marine & Leisure - Leerderville (08) 9381 1442 Whitworths Marine & Leisure - Mosman Park (08) 9385 5877
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Stessco 620 Albacore with Yamaha 200hp 4-stroke - SC
TENT -
RE ONLINE MO
Q
R
RA
CON
AN THE
toward the stern will negate the need for extra eskies. The large console also allowed for plenty of dry storage. Overall the ride was very smooth, and the boat handled extremely well and felt stable on the turns. Given the day we had and the centre console configuration of the boat, we did get a bit wet, but if you drove more sensibly than we
CO
DE FOR EX
T
BRISBANE
Bob Thornton
It’s rare enough that I get to leave the office to test such a big, bad-ass boat, but even rarer that mother nature dishes out some conditions to adequately test it in! Stessco never cease to amaze me by just how many types of boaters they can cater to. From decked out tinnies and jon boats for fishing ponds, to sleek, tournament-ready fishing machines, to familyfriendly runabouts, and all the way to comfortable offshore rigs for the most serious of anglers – they literally do have it all. This time round we were testing out a boat in the latter category, the 620 Albacore, the biggest in its series. This premium fishing rig, with its hi-tech fit-outs, big T-top and dual-axle trailer was a tad intimidating at first, however after a quick tour courtesy of Stessco’s Lance Warren, it was clear to me that this boat was built with the serious offshore angler in mind! A QUICK LOOK Having a quick walk around, Lance told me that this is the largest of the Albacore series, at 6.55m long, with the others coming in at 5.9, 5.6 and 5.42m. “The Albacore series of boats was one of the first boats the Stessco name branded as a centre console sea-going boat, so it’s one of the original Stessco boats,” he explained. And with it being one of SPECIFICATIONS Length (mm) ....... 6550 Beam (mm) ......... 2480 Depth (mm)......... 1480 Bottom sides (mm) .. 5 Top sides (mm) ......... 4 Max. HP ................ 200 Transom height .....25” Max. people.............. 6 58
JANUARY 2020
VERDICT There are many specific boats on the market for very specialised purposes, and sometimes even singular species. This version of the 620 Albacore is the perfect boat for someone who wants to fish offshore but not limit their fishing to only a few species. This is truly a ‘jack of all trades’ offshore boat. Whether
PERFORMANCE
Main: With four aboard and the hammers down, this big offshore machine was in its element. Above: The Yamaha F200hp was extremely quiet, even while cruising. the originals, it’s clear Stessco have had a long time to modify and perfect the fit-out and design, culminating in a boat that is, as Lance puts it, “tough as nails.” This latest version of the well-proven workhorse is tougher than before, with thicker plate bottom and sides and upgraded horsepower rating. This rig was fitted a Yamaha F200hp (its maximum horsepower), and its optional features included but were not limited to, dual Humminbird Solix units, JBL stereo, BLA Drum Winch, deck hose and a 112lb Minn Kota Ulterra on the bow. All this added up to an impressive looking rig that was not only perfect for taking on just about any offshore fishing challenge, but also a boat with enough creature comforts to entertain any non-fishers. You can get a more thorough rundown of these electronics from Marcel Krieger from BLA by scanning the QR code hereby! TRAILER AND LAUNCHING It always makes sense to put a boat on a trailer designed specifically for it, and this is especially for true for larger rigs such as this one. Stescco offer their customers an extended warranty of five years (on their premium hulls
like the Albacore) if they chose to sit that boat on one of the OEM trailers built by Dunbier. Stessco actually set these trailers up for their boats, so you’ll know you’re getting the best trailer possible for that rig. In this instance, the dualaxle composite design of the trailer made launching and retrieving very easy for two people, with one person needed to connect/disconnect at the winch end and one person at the helm to guide it as it gently slides on or off. Trailing will obviously demand a vehicle with a decent towing capacity, but this is the reality of owning a sea-going boat of this size. ON THE WATER When we motored out of Scarborough Marina, there were four of us aboard; two shy of the maximum persons allowed on this craft. Once underway the first thing I noticed – and it is such a small thing – is the padding around the gunnels, which is a great bracing point for passengers, especially on the choppy day Moreton Bay dished up. The cast deck up the front featured removable padding, meaning the cast deck doubles as a lounge if you just want to enjoy a day on the water with a
few snacks, almost like a bowrider. I also liked that with the way the Ulterra was mounted, it didn’t impede sitting space when stowed. Being a fishing boat, this boat had space to move around the whole boat’s perimeter unobstructed while fighting fish. This is a huge plus when going after bigger ocean going trophies, and while this is going on the skipper can position boat with ease from the centre console. Underdeck and gunnel storage will be very attractive to serious offshore fishers, and the underfloor kill tank
RPM ...................... km/h ....................... km/L 1000 ............................. 7 ......................... 2.41 1500 ........................... 11 ......................... 2.13 2000 ........................... 13 ......................... 1.46 2500 ........................... 15 ......................... 1.22 3000 ........................... 24 ......................... 1.32 3500 ........................... 35 ......................... 1.54 4000 ........................... 44 ......................... 1.49 4500 ........................... 53 ......................... 1.30 5000 ........................... 59 ......................... 1.00 5500 ........................... 68 ......................... 0.97 WOT ........................... 68 ......................... 0.93 did you could easily avoid the late shower! The top speed of 68km/h was impressive for a boat this size, however if you wanted to save on fuel and still get to your spot fairly quickly, idling back to around 3500rpm will still get you along at about 35km/h with a fuel economy of 1.54km/L.
it’s dropping baits and jigs for reefies, trolling for mackerel, popping for GTs, or even searching for billfish, this boat would step up to the challenge! With all the bells and whistles this boat had fitted, it would go for around $95,000, however Albacore 620 packages will start at about $60,000.
The slightly rougher than usual conditions allowed the team to really test out the offshore capabilities of this boat.
Top: Entrance from the rear of the vessel is not only easy, but also very safe for younger passengers. Above: Wiring is all internal, but not unreachable – a great balance.
Top: Space is a big feature of the 620 Albacore, which is important when fighting big angry ocean predators, or rocking out to your favourite tunes played through the speaker, as the team may have done… Above: The bait board is an essential piece of equipment to anyone dropping bait for reefies.
The F200hp is one of the more popular models in the Yamaha range, and given the quietness, economy and reliability, it’s not hard to see why.
The room at the stern was fantastic, and the underfloor kill tank had room enough for even long fish such as Spanish mackerel.
That’s one tricked up dash! You can check out Marcel Krieger’s tour of the dash in the video.
Top Left: It’s a small thing, but the foldaway checker plate ladder at the rear makes getting into the boat that much easier. Bottom Left: The BLA drum winch is a luxury for anyone who doesn’t want to be manually pulling the anchor rope all day. Right: The T-top managed to keep the sun off four people, while also not impede on casting space.
Left: Being able to walk all around the boat unobstructed will appeal to any serious angler, and the padded gunnels make an excellent brace point. Right: The view from the lounge/casting deck up the front shows the internals of a boat that is, as Lance put it, “tough as nails.” JANUARY 2020
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