Western Australia Fishing Monthly May 2019 by Fishing Monthly

MAY THE FISH BE WITH YOU

Features Fun in the fresh • Swimming with the fishes • Learn about leaders •

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Boating & Kayaking Flats bream in the yak • New Polycraft 300 Tuffy • More bar crossing tips • Bassco Tornado with 115hp Mercury Pro XS •

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MAY 2019, Vol. 1 No. 9

Contents 6

METRO Perth Metro/Cockburn Sound

Swan & Canning Rivers

Metro Offshore

SOUTH COAST Esperance 17 Bremer Bay

Albany 18 WEST COAST Augusta 20 Busselton 22 Bunbury 24 Mandurah 26 Lancelin 29 Jurien Bay

Geraldton 32 GASCOYNE COAST Kalbarri 33 Shark Bay

From the Editor’s Desk... Well that is the first half of this year nearly over, and where did it go? Hopefully for most of you it has involved a whole lot of great fishing! It is that time of the year when the fishing is at its best, and the reports in the pages following certainly suggest the same. If you haven’t already, then you should seriously consider getting out and amongst some salmon fishing. Take the family or some friends and make some memories that will last a lifetime, or at least until next years salmon run! GAMEX is done and dusted with what looked like some truly epic fishing as usual, and even though competitor numbers were down due to the cyclone, the stats should impress you enough to book it in

the diary for next year. Check out the Exmouth report page for more details! Did you get a chance to have a read about the economic value of recreational fishing? Well, if you haven’t, it is in the pages here, so be sure to have a read. It’s pretty

impressive stuff, and once again I take my hat off to Recfishwest for making this great bit of information see the light of day. Now it is just a matter of putting this crucial information to good use. As an aside, if you have been salmon fishing already, please also be sure to go

Ian Sewell to the Recfishwest website and do the Economic Value of Salmon questionnaire. The more people that do it, the better the results will be. While on the Recfishwest topic, you may have seen a few issues ago that the Recfishwest SunSmart fishing clinics has reached 20 years of getting kids hooked! If you have a bit of spare time and feel like you have something to give back to the fishing community, Recfishwest is looking for some new instructors for the fishing clinic program. If this is something you think you might be interested in considering, get in touch with the Recfishwest office. As always, if you missed an issue you can get it online at www.issuu.com or get a subscription for you and a friend online at isubcribe.com.au.

Exmouth 34 NORTH COAST Broome 36 Dampier/Karratha 37 38

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Swimming with the fishes

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Geraldton writer Michael Triantopoulos was very pleased to take this longtail tuna off the beach.

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WESTERN AUSTRALIA FISHING MONTHLY

Boating 60

Back to Basics

REGULAR FEATURES

PRO

FRESHWATER

ING TRADE

“Where pride is the difference”

NOW PERTH’S BAR CRUSHER SPECIALISTS FiGlass 510 Dominator Yamaha 70hp 4 Stroke

Quintrex Frontier Mercury 115hp 4 Stroke

Quintrex Top Ender Yamaha 90hp 4 Stroke

$162.77 Per Week*

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Interest Rate 10.15%* Comparison Rate 10.72%*

Interest Rate 10.15%* Comparison Rate10.72%*

Was $42,109 Now reduced to $39,990 Quintrex Dinghys

Was $55,990 Now reduced to $49,990 Stejcraft SS58 Bowrider

Bar Crusher 575C

Mercury 115hp Pro XS 4 Stroke

Mercury 115hp 4 Stroke

$241.49 Per Week* Interest Rate 10.15%* Comparison Rate 10.72%*

From $1,990

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$271.57 Per Week* Interest Rate 10.15%* Comparison Rate 10.72%*

From $67,630

Ph: 9250 3339 www.aquasportsmarine.com.au Disclaimer: *Repayment amount shown is the weekly equivalent of a monthly instalment of ( A ) $705.34, ( B ) $875.91,( C ) $858.85, ( D ) $1046.47, ( E ) $1176.79 to purchase ( A ) FiGlass 510 Dominator package, ( B ) Quintrex Frontier package, ( C ) Quintrex Top Ender package, ( D ) Stejcraft SS58 Bowrider package, ( E ) Barcrusher 575C package at a drive away price of A- $39990, B – 49990, C - $48990, D – 59990, E - 67630. It is indicative only and is calculated based on an interest rate of 10.15% p.a. (comparison rate 10.72% p.a.) less a deposit of 20% and 60 monthly instalments and an application fee of $395. Interest rate used is based on an average individual credit rating and meeting mandatory credit criteria. Repayments and interest rate may vary depending on your individual circumstances, financial position, credit rating, information provided, loan amount and loan term. Offer available to private buyers only while stocks last. Comparison rate is based on a 5 year secured fixed rate consumer loan of $30,000. WARNING: This comparison rate is true only for the examples given and may not include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts might result in a different comparison rate. Credit criteria, fees, charges, terms and conditions apply. Yamaha Motor Finance Australia Pty. Ltd. ABN 29 101 928 670. Australian Credit Licence 394553.

Don’t keep wishing, time to go freshwater fishing MANDURAH

Jesse Choy

Freshwater fishing around Perth is not something often talked about, but it continues to grow in popularity as more and more uncover this relatively untouched form of fishing. While the species you can find around our

A FEW GENERAL THINGS When heading out, you need to be mindful that all redfin perch should not be returned to the water. A licence is required for freshwater fishing, and there is also restrictions as to what sort of vessel you can take onto particular waters. Visiting the fisheries web page or giving them a call

for the job, but realistically, they are not needed and should be looked into as a way of refining technique more than anything else. Although many see it as unnecessary, avid anglers to take it one step further and invest a little bit more because of the enjoyment that fishing brings them. A rod with a soft tip and medium-fast action, paired

Christian scored this monster redfin by trolling a 3m diver behind his kayak. Typically they don’t put up much of a fight, but at this size they start to pull a bit of string. it comes to freshwater applications. A rod length or more of fluorocarbon is preferred, especially if you are going to fish lighter to

you do find yourself wanting to fish lighter or heavier for some reason, lengthening your leader is always a good option.

pile of reeds. Lack of stretch from braid paired with the abrasive resistance of fluorocarbon is a very useful combination, since trout are

A stunning sky show at Lake Brockman. dams are not particularly big, they provide a lot of fun and can be quite userfriendly, especially when it comes to people wanting to learn fish in freshwater. Part of the reason many people love going to go these places is to immerse themselves in serenity.

just to keep up to date before you head out will ensure that you don’t accidentally break the law, especially if you are heading somewhere new. GEARING UP If you have done any sort of light inshore fishing, you more than likely have an outfit that is adequate

with a small finesse reel is a preference for those who spin for freshwater fish on lures. Not only are these rods able to feel tiny bites with their extra sensitivity, but the lightness will allow you to fish comfortably all day without any pain or discomfort.

Impoundment fish can sometimes come up in fairly average condition, but fortunately this beautiful brown was in tip-top condition. enjoy the fight a bit more. You don’t really need to go heavy, so 6lb is fairly adequate for what you may encounter. If

This longer leader helps to keep you connected if you hook a decent fish that is aiming for some rock or a

always willing to put on an aerial display, which can result in hooks being spat due to loss of tension.

Trolling hardbodies down the middle of the river bed in the warmer months can yield good results. The land is generally very beautiful to look at, filled with picturesque landscapes. If you are fortunate enough to watch the sunrise at one of the many dams, it can be quite a spectacle and particularly rewarding if you enjoy photography or just nature in general. 6

MAY 2019

enough to land you some of fish from the fresh. Whether or not you’re heading out for a family camping trip or you decide you want to give it a proper crack, you can usually get away with what you have in the shed. You can go as far as to buy purpose-built rods and reels

In terms of lines to use, the old saying ‘go light to get the bite’ will apply. In general, if you are fishing a lighter line, the fish are going to be more willing to take your offering, although many freshwater fish are caught on alternative lines, braid certainly works exceptionally well when

Wellington Dam has some truly great structure to fish!

FINDING FISH Fishing from the land can sometimes be difficult, and it is certainly preferable to have a boat or kayak. Anglers fishing from the shore are still not left out of the equation, but generally you need think a little bit smarter and adapt to conditions you’re faced with. Although this

is applicable to any sort of fishing, as a land-based person fishing out fresh, you may want to get to your location and observe the environment well before beginning your adventure. If you are able to spot a bank or a stretch of banks that look to be getting a bit more wind, you should definitely try fishing it.

Quite often you will find that the windblown banks provide better fishing. Bait tends to get pushed back into these corners receiving the majority of the wind, which means the trout and redfin perch will station themselves nearby. Opportunistic feeding in these sorts of circumstances means that

Sometimes you find yourself not fishing at all, because you’re too busy appreciating the time away from the busy city streets.

A stud of a rainbow trout caught on a Pontoon 21 48mm Crackjack. This little lure has a hump on its shoulders that resembles the silhouette of a redfin perch.

for little expenditure of energy, the fish are able to get a good feed. It certainly pays to cast or troll past visible structures that have a pocket of slack water, even though these fish are lovers of turbulent water. Sometimes the trout will choose to sit in the slack water, saving their energy while not starving themselves of oxygenated water. On occasion, when the time is right, a fish will dart out from this slack

through the fast-moving water in order to pounce on what has caught their eye. Whether or not it is a tree or a rock point, it is all worth trying, and a lot of the time if you have a bit of success, you can find further success by repeating what you have done! Being active in fishing and being aware of changes, just means that you are always adaptable to the situation, however it may change on the day and it is best not to get too stuck

into one way of looking at the situation. Although you may not always find success, it is important to keep trying new things, and you will usually at least get a few tasty redfin perch. LURES There are so many lures available at the moment, and you really don’t need to go over the top with lure choice. It really depends what time of the year you are planning on fishing. If you are fishing when it To page 8

MAY 2019

WHAT’S NEW FISHING RAPALA MAX RAP WALK’N ROLL

The ‘do-all’ topwater bait, Max Rap Walk’N Roll spits, bobs, skitters, and slides across the surface in all conditions. The Walk’N Roll lure is weighted for maximum casting distance and ultimate stability in bad weather and rough conditions. Under a steady retrieve the Max Rap Walk’N Roll spits and rolls from side-to-side, and twitching and pausing creates a walking action. Cranking it in fast imitates a fleeing baitfish, while twitching it in place gives a head down bobbing motion. Fitted with VMC 7554 2X-Strong Ti coated inline treble hooks, the Walk’N Roll has a total length of 120mm, weighs 29g and is available in eight amazing high-quality finished colours that Rapala is world renowned for. Ask for them at your local tackle store today. www.rapala.com.au

MOLIX RT SHAD & SV CRAW

Italian lure company Molix has expanded its range of soft baits with the addition of the RT Shad and Molix SV Craw. The RT Shad’s profile shape and bulky paddle tail give it a realistic movement, and also provide great stability. It has a soft, high density construction, and is effective on both freshwater and saltwater species. The RT Shad is available in a range of fish-catching colours, and it has a special insert with a high concentration of glitter to maximise flash during the retrieve. There are two sizes, 11.4cm (4.5”), 9cm (3.5”). The Molix SV Craw’s has very realistic claws that have been engineered to catch water, resulting in an enticing flapping action. A perfect trailer, it’s loaded with Molix’s exclusive crawfish scent for added attraction. This sinking craw measures 6.9cm (2.75”). www.ejtodd.com.au

SHIMANO SLX XT

The new Shimano SLX XT has been released, and features the new SVS Infinity breaking system. This provides a much wider brake adjustment range than the 2018 SLX, so you have much greater control using the external dial to adjust the braking system with ease. This allows you to cast a wider range of lure styles and weights in varying fishing conditions. The aluminium Hagane body also helps to ensure that the reel is extremely rigid and durable, which is an upgrade on the composite body of the Casitas. Inside the XT’s Hagane Body, durable brass gearing delivers reliable cranking power and now 4+1 bearings to ensure the reel is smoother than before. Developed to replace the Casitas 150, the XT has a more versatile and compact size that is comparable to a 70 sized reel, however the XT offers the line capacity of a standard 150 size. A 48mm Throw Handle across three right hand model options, featuring gear ratios of 6.3:1, 7.2:1 (HG) and 8.2:1 (XG), and the max drag setting is now 4.5kg. Price: RRP $229.95 www.shimanofish.com.au 42

MAY 2019

PRODUCT GUIDE

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

BLACK MAGIC KLT 10/0 AND VALUE PACKS 4 Black Magic’s premium non-offset recurve hook, the KLT, has become so popular that they have expanded the range to include a 10/0 size as well as a value pack option for their 8/0 and new 10/0 size. The value packs offer a bulk buy price for KLT fans. The new 10/0 size will be ideal for a range of applications from live baiting through to skip baiting, deep sea fishing and targeting big fish with big baits. The KLT hook boasts some seriously good features including: light gauge/extreme strength; non-offset recurve; ‘Super Slip’ non-stick PTFE coating for advanced rust resistance and superb penetration; and IGFA legal and NZSFC approved for tournament use. These hooks are made in Japan with premium grade high carbon steel. For more information on Black Magic’s range of hooks visit the Black Magic Tackle website. You can also see the latest news and catch photos on their Facebook page and Instagram. www.blackmagictackle.com

OKUMA SLV FLY REELS

The Okuma SLV Series of fly reels are stylish, lightweight, quality and featurepacked, while still offering excellent value for money. Features include ALC: Alumilite diecast aluminium frame, precision machined stainless steel spool shaft and brass bushing drive system, one-way roller bearing with the ability to quickly and easily switch from right to left hand retrieve and a multi-disc cork and stainless steel drag system for smooth drag control. These reels have a Diecast Super Large arbor spool design for rapid line retrieval when dealing with fast running species, and have non-slip, positive grip rubberized handle knobs. Okuma SLV fly reels are available in five sizes to cover a range of applications, from trout in the fresh to pelagics offshore. Suggested retail prices are $119.90 (4/5 and 5/6), $129.90 (7/8 and 8/9) and $139.90 (10/11). For more information on the Okuma range visit the Okuma Australia website, or check them out on Facebook at www.facebook. com/okuma.australia for catch photos and competitions. www.okuma.com.au

ZEREK PYRA

Designed for shallow water applications, the Zerek Pyra has a unique action and is one of the latest additions to the Professional Craft stable of lures. Built with tough ABS plastics for durability, the 95mm Pyra is equipped with a weight transfer system to enable long and accurate casts. A tight roll gives this lure a seductive action that will prove irresistible to many species of fish. Available in 10 high quality colour finishes to suit varying conditions, the Pyra weighs 11.8g and will make a mark wherever a shallow water crankbait is needed to excite predators. For more information on this and other lures in the Zerek range, visit the Wilson Fishing website. You can also see all the latest news and catch photos on Facebook page (www. facebook.com/ZerekAustralia), Instagram (@ wilson_fishing) or YouTube (www.youtube. com/user/Wilsonfishing). www.wilsonfishing.com

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

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PRODUCT GUIDE

WHAT’S NEW FISHING

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

WILDFISH FLY SELECTION PACKS

The Wildfish fly selection packs from JM Gillies are sure-fire winners for those new to fly fishing, or for fly fishers who want to target new species or locations that they haven’t fished before. There are nine packs (10 Felty’s flies in each) in the range, and each pack is tailored to individual species and locations. However, there is plenty of overlap between them. For example, the Trout Streamer Pack would easily be at home in the kit of a bass fisher, while the Bass Pack contains flies that are just as at home in many tropical freshwater systems right across the north. And in the Billabong Pack, there are flies that would light up the eyes of a bass angler. All in all, it’s a very versatile selection that has been put together by Peter Morse. The newest additions in the Wildfish Fly Pack range are the Inshore Pack, Flats Pack and Barra Pack, and they are sure to please many fly fishers. www.jmgillies.com.au

Rhino-Rack’s Batwing Compact Awning is packed with all the same features of the original Batwing Awning but redesigned to fit small to medium vehicles. With 270° of shade and 6.4m² of coverage, the Batwing Compact is made from ultradurable, water and mould resistant lightweight material that has been tested in the most extreme environments. It has UPF 50+ sun protection. The Batwing Compact comes with integrated lightweight aluminium black powder-coated legs that simply unclip from the storage position and drop into place, making installation a breeze – even with only one person. The legs also feature moulded fittings to accommodate two pegs directly through the base, to offer further stability in gusty conditions. The whole bundle is stored in a heavy-duty UV-resistant bag with an integrated pocket for the pegs and rope. The kit includes 2 x multi-fit bracket + hardware, 10 x pegs, peg bag, 8 x guy ropes (4 with hooks), 2 x spare hinge knuckles. Price: SRP $769 www.rhinorack.com.au

NEW RAPALA KNIFE 8 AND SCISSORS

QUANTUM SMOKE S3

DAIWA SWIMBAITS

Two of the latest releases from Rapala are the RCD 5” Folding Knife and the RCD Retractable Line Scissors. The RCD 5” folding knife conveniently folds in half to safely secure and protect the handground stainless steel blade when not in use. The easy release lock-back design fixes the blades safely in place when being used, while the non slip soft grip handle with built in safety guard provides maximum blade control. 16cm in length when unfolded with a Blade size of 12.5cm. Safety takes priority when it comes to the Rapala RCD Retractable Line Scissors. Two super-sharp stainless steel blades retract into the surrounding casing when the triggers are released, exposing the blades only when in use. A built-in carabiner allows you to keep these scissors close by at all times. The RCD 5” Folding Knife and RCD Retractable Line Scissors are available now at all good tackle stores. www.rapala.com.au

SHIMANO GRAPPLER 19

COMPACT BATWING 10 AWNING

The new Shimano Grappler 2019 series are the next generation offshore JDM rods, equipped to battle with the largest offshore predators. This upgraded series now features both Spiral X and Hi-Power X blank technology to enhance power, strength and durability. With 19 dedicated Type J (Jigging) and Type C (Casting) models that are PE rated from PE 2.5 to PE 8, there is a wide range of options to suit Australian anglers. The patented high-strength Spiral X enhances torsional and compression rigidity under load without adding extra weight to the blank, providing instant power transmission for precise casting and control over fish. The Hi-Power technology enhances the torsional resistance even further, and creates the optimum balance between light weight, strength and control. These rods also feature Fuji reel seats and Fuji K Guides with SiC tips, and specially tapered grip designs. Whether it be heavy kingfish jigging or topwater GT casting, the rods have been tested in the harshest of offshore environments around the world, resulting in a line-up that is capable of grappling with the strongest of ocean predators. Price: SRP $429.95-$499.95 www.shimanofish.com.au

Barra, bass, and cod anglers will salivate at the sight of the new Quantum Smoke S3 Baitcaster reel. The Smoke S3 packs a larger 35.5mm spool into a compact aluminium X-Frame to provide a large line capacity, longer casts, and greater line pick-up with every crank of the power handle. To complement the larger spool, an advanced and lightweight ACS 4.0TM cast control system has been engineered to minimise the amount of energy it takes to get the spool spinning during a cast. This remarkable system also features additional control brakes that disengage at around 5,000 RPMs to maximise casting distance. The Quantum Smoke S3 Baitcaster includes 10 PT Bearings (10+1) and a Zero Friction Design for incredible smoothness. The reel is coated with Saltguard Protection for added durability in the most testing environments and also includes the remarkable Quantum CSC Ceramic-Carbon Drag System with a huge 25lbs of drag pressure. www.quantumfishing.com.au

The Daiwa Duckfin Live Shad, Hybrid Swimbait, and LiveTrout Swimbait have you covered for this year’s swimbait season. The Duckfin Live Shad features a 3D designed, ultra realistic baitfish profile and swimming action, and is available in two sizes, 15cm and 20cm. This soft plastic shad is suited to slow and fast retrieves and presentations, and can be rigged in a host of different ways, including weedless for barra and as a trailer for large spinnerbaits/chatterbaits when targeting Murray cod. The Hybrid Swimbait delivers the best of both worlds and combines diving lure design with soft plastic technologies. Rigged and ready to fish, the Hybrid Swimbait features a solid head, bib and heavy wire internal construction in the head, 5X strong trebles and a quick release stinger hook. It’s available in two sizes, 18cm and 25cm. For those looking for the ultimate imitation, the Live Trout has few peers. Using 3D printing and design to achieve the perfect trout imitation, the Live Trout features a solid silicone body, 3D eyes, pectoral and anal fins for added realism and stability, internal wire construction, quick release stinger hook, and 5X hooks. It’s available in two sizes, 18cm and 25cm. www.daiwafishing.com.au

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

WHAT’S NEW FISHING SAMAKI RIBCAGE

ZMAN TRD 13 SPINZ

Samaki has designed you the ultimate weapon when it comes to jigging up a storm. The new Samaki Ribcage flutters, darts and spirals, with an action that is enhanced by the ribcage design on the rear side.The deconstructed ribs aid in the portrayal of an injured baitfish, erupting with bubbles as it drops. With eight fish-catching colours and seven different weights ranging from 20g to 200g, the Ribcage offers the highest UV properties, enticing the most elusive fish to attack. This centre balanced jig comes pre-rigged with premium assist hooks and Japanese Kevlar. It’s ideal for targeting kingfish, amberjack, samsonfish, tuna, coral trout and all other reef species. For more information and stockists visit the Samaki website, or to see the latest releases and catch photos you can like them on Facebook and Instagram. Price: from SRP $7.95 www.samaki.com.au

BONE BLACK RIVER XH RODS

Over 50 years old and still going strong, the Spinfisher VI is built to take on any fish, anywhere! The new PENN Spinfisher VI features IPX5 sealing, so whether it gets hit with a wave, or you let it ride in the spray all the way home, you don’t have to worry about saltwater getting into the gearbox or drag system. The HT-100 drag washers are housed in a fully sealed spool to give the stopping power needed for big saltwater fish. A full metal body and sideplate keep the CNC Gear System in precise alignment under heavy loads. Durability, smoothness, and Precision is what CNCGear technology delivers. By using state-of-the-art software and CNC machinery brass drive, pinion and oscillation gears are cut to exact tolerances. The new PENN Spinfisher VI reels are available in standard, Live Liner and Long Cast models. Price: RRP from $199.99 www.pennfishing.com.au 44

MAY 2019

Combining cutting-edge blank design with great value, the TD Hyper and TD Sol series from Daiwa set a standard in performance. The new TD Sol and TD Hyper feature HVF Nanoplus blanks for heightened sensitivity and lightness, while Daiwa’s X45 blank technology eliminates blank twist and distortion to increase rod strength, function, and sensitivity. The combination of Fuji guide technology with Daiwa’s RR (reduced resistance) guide design system sees the TD Sol and TD Hyper series leading the way in their class when it comes to casting efficiency and performance. The 762ULFS joins the Sol family, and is tailor-made for the finesse angler looking to make longcast presentations, while the Hyper family welcomes three new models with the 661LFS, 742ULFS, and 763LXS, adding great diversity and finesse options to the range. To see the complete TD Sol and TD Hyper range, with a full list of specs, visit the Daiwa website. www.daiwafishing.com.au

BLACK MAGIC BMAX 50

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Add flash and vibration to your soft plastic presentation in seconds with ZMan TRD SpinZ! TRD SpinZ feature a stainless steel centring wire that makes it quick and easy to insert them into your ZMan ElaZtech plastic, or other soft bait. Once inserted they are secured in place by a moulded plastic, dual prong keeper, that locks into the ElaZtech material. Available in silver and gold colours in both Colorado and willow blades, TRD SpinZ have a multitude of applications, from pimping surface frogs, to switching on snapper when fishing jerk shads, or adding flash and vibration to the belly of your paddle tail swimbaits. ZMan TRD SpinZ are available in silver or gold colour, in both willow and Colorado blades, with three per pack. Price: SRP $15.95 www.z-man.com.au

DAIWA TD 14 SOL/HYPER RODS

Bone Rods has released two 7’ extra heavy rods in the Black River range. The two rods comprise of a spin and baitcast rod with the same specs to give anglers the choice of using their preferred fishing style. Each rod combines the power and the finesse needed to tangle with complex situations and dynamic, fast-paced fishing. The length ensure ease of use in tight areas where casting accuracy is a must. Couple this with a soft tip that allows anglers to downsize their lures to match-the-hatch for finicky fish and the new Black River rods look like very impressive sticks. From deep cranking in rock pools to throwing swimbaits into timber and weed, the new Black River rods excel at reaching out and touching the beasts hiding in their element. The two models are the 368BRC701XH (7’, Medium Fast Extra Heavy Baitcast, 15-30lb, 8-50g) and the 368BRS701XH (7’ Medium Fast Extra Heavy Spin, 15-30lb, 8-50g). www.wilsonfishing.com

PENN SPINFISHER VI REELS

PRODUCT GUIDE

The new Black Magic BMax 50s are an expansion to the popular BMax range, with subtle but important differences. These bibbed lures sink slowly and typically dive down to around 1m when being retrieved. They are 50mm in length and weigh 4.0g – an ideal size and weight for casting and spinning into Australian rivers and estuaries, but they’re also great for being slowly trolled. MBax lures come rigged with strong, sharp treble hooks – one on the belly and one on the tail, and are available in a range of eight attractive colours. The BMax range of lures sit at a great price point, and are available at your local Black Magic stockist. To find out more, visit the Black Magic Tackle website. You can also find more information, news and catch photos on their Facebook page (www.facebook. com/blackmagictackle) or check them out on Instagram (@blackmagictackle) or YouTube. www.blackmagictackle.com

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

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recfishwest Western Australia’s $2.4 billion lifestyle WA’s hundreds of thousands of fishers choose to spend $2.4 billion every year on fishing. Of that, $1.8 billion is spent on fishing trips alone. Healthy abundant fish stocks are the key to providing great fishing experiences. Recfishwest, the West Australian Premier the Hon. Mark McGowan and the Minister for Fisheries the Hon. Dave Kelly, recently launched a report on the ‘Economic Dimensions of Recreational Fishing in Western Australia’, at an event in Fremantle. In a WA first, the economic study detailed the annual economic spend by recreational fishers on fishing related activities such as fishing trips and travel, fishing gear and boat fishing costs. The results, a staggering $2.4 billion is spent by fishers each year! Recfishwest CEO Dr Andrew Rowland said the figure is huge but not one of surprise. “We know almost

Recfishwest, the West Australian Premier the Hon. Mark McGowan and the Minister for Fisheries the Hon. Dave Kelly, recently launched a report on the ‘Economic Dimensions of Recreational Fishing in Western Australia’, at an event in Fremantle. 750,000 We s t e r n Australians choose to go fishing as part of their lifestyle, that’s at least one person in every third house

who goes fishing each year,” Dr Rowland said. “The $2.4 billion yearly injection into the state’s economy demonstrates

FACT FILE Economic Dimensions of Recreational Fishing in Western Australia was conducted by Economic Research Associates and supported by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and Recfishwest. The project was funded through recreational fishing licence fees through the Recreational Fishing Initiatives Fund. The total expenditure figure in the research is not the total ‘value’ of the recreational fishing industry, simply what West Aussies spend each year on their fishing activities. 45% of fishers state-wide only fish from the shore, 24% from a boat only, and 31% from both boat and shore. An average boat-based fisher spends $13,559/year (this does not include boat purchase) and average shore based fishers spends $2,253/year. FISHING NEWS

that recreational fishing in WA matters.” “It’s important to note this is a voluntary spend from our community, it’s not a tax, people aren’t forced to spend their hard earned dollars to go fishing, they choose to. $2.4 billion is the new baseline for recreational fishing value, as long as fishing experiences are protected and enhanced this figure will continue to grow. “We have known for a long time that fishing provides a huge number of health and wellbeing benefits for our community, and now we

know the huge economic benefits it also provides our economy. “The best way to maintain and grow these benefits is to ensure people

have a great time whenever they go fishing in our great state. “To achieve this, we need more than simply sustainable fish populations, we need healthy oceans and waterways managed for abundant and plentiful fish stocks.” Dr Rowland said. “Imagine if you had the chance to catch the fish of a lifetime, every time you went fishing – wouldn’t you go fishing more often?” West Australians love to travel throughout WA for fishing, spending $1.8 billion on fishing trips each year, $160 million on fishing gear such as pots, rods and reels and $390 million on purchasing and maintaining new and used fishing boats. “We are very pleased to see the Premier today supporting our desire to see fishing incorporated into the state’s tourism agenda, we’d much rather see people spending time fishing in our regions than heading overseas.” You can catch the stats at www.recfishwest.org.au.

REGIONAL FISHING SPEND What residents of each WA region spend on fishing per year Gascoyne............................................. $28 million Goldfields............................................. $147 million Great Southern..................................... $46 million Kimberley............................................. $184 million Metro.................................................... $1.1 billion Mid-West.............................................. $76 million Peel....................................................... $217 million Pilbara.................................................. $190 million South West........................................... $306 million Wheat Belt............................................ $43 million

Bluewater Marine named WA Stacer dealer of the year Stacer Boats Australia has crowned its 2018/19 National and State Dealer of the Year awards. Thorough analysis of the vast dealer network was done in order to identify the top performers. With over 50 dealerships across Australia, the competition is stiff. Congratulations to all the winners! Cameron Wood and Dominic Smith, Stacer’s National Account Managers, had the tough task to choose each award winner. Even with their strict criteria, the decision to choose the best dealerships in Australia is a difficult responsibility. The award criteria includes customer satisfaction ratings, dealership growth, presentation and cleanliness of their premises, team 46

MAY 2019

dynamics, marketing and lastly a thorough physical representation of the Stacer range. Two hours south of Perth you will find one of the most immaculate dealerships in all of Australia, Bluewater Marine. Lead by the Lotti family, the team at Bluewater Marine is located in Bunbury and can always be found taking customers down to the water. Bluewater Marine’s outstanding customer service is worth the drive from WA’s primary city centre to Bunbury. Very conscious of what their customer wants Bluewater Marine takes a thoughtful approach how customers are treated in their store. “They are just genuinely nice people,” Wood said. “The team at Bluewater sells without any pressure

on the customer and is more focused on finding the right boat for the right person.” Jess Lotti, Sales Manager and Family Member at Bluewater Marine said, “It is always good to see people are willing to drive the extra distance for our customer service.” To be selected as a Stacer dealer is no easy feat and to be the best amongst peers is a fantastic accomplishment. The dealerships awarded in 2018/19 realise that customer service is king, teamwork is vital and it always helps to go the extra mile. Now that these awards have been granted each of the Stacer Dealers can reflect on their achievements and refocus to the year ahead in order recreate similar success. – Telwater

Degroot in spectacular form for WATA Pro/Am The 2019 WA Tournament Anglers (WATA) Pro/Am took place deep in the South West of WA in Albany for what would turn out to be an entertaining weekend of fishing and socialising. The Pro/Am is an event in which the non-boaters are paired with a different boater on each of the two days of the competition and from there the pair have to work together as a team to compile their best bag of five bream. Both the boater

used this time wisely, and as a result Peter managed to weigh-in the biggest bag for each day of the Pro/Am to win by a significant margin. It’s hard to watch such an impressive performance without looking at the equipment Peter used. Peter used a 7’2” 2-6lb rated G Loomis GL2 rod that was matched with a 2500 Shimano Ci4 Stradic. Peter spooled this reel with 12lb Sunline Castaway braid and connecting to his braid he ran

effort during both days of the competition. For most of the event, Graeme used 50mm Cranka Crabs in order to catch some excellent quality bream that made for some very handy upgrades for each team he was a part of. By casting the 50mm Cranka Crab against the banks of the Kalgan River, Graeme would closely watch for any disturbances or vibrations in his line while the lure was sinking to the bottom. Once Graeme detected a bite

Amateur champion Graeme Kovacevich and second place pro Paul Burton, display their fish that contributed to a strong come back for Paul and an amateur victory for Graeme. Spooled onto this reel was 6lb Suffix straight through fluorocarbon. Graeme took home $200 in cash, a prize pack of sponsor products a couple of $100 vouchers to Trailblazers and Albany Rods & Tackle. At the event presentation Graeme thanked the organisers and the

Pro champion Peter Degroot (right) and second place amateur Adam Smith (left) hold aloft the cracking bream they caught on the second day to seal the victory for Pete. They needed another hand to hold up their fifth fish, which was just as big as these. and non-boater share their day one bag weight, and they then try and add to it with whoever they’re paired up with on the following day. The field consisted of eleven boaters and eleven non-boaters, which meant everyone had a partner for each day. This created a brilliant social environment and an even playing field for the anglers for them to do battle in Albany’s Oyster Harbour region. Speaking of battle, Peter Degroot put in a herculean performance over the course of the weekend to weigh-in a full bag of five fish each day to record a final weight of 7.8kg in order to take out the event for the Pro division! This was such a dominant performance that the nearest competitor could only get within 1.52kg of Peter! Peter has been in hot form this year and once again it was his skill in working vibes to such a damaging effect that sealed the deal for him. Choosing to fish the Kalgan River on both days, Peter worked his vibes by hopping them across the bottom with a few pauses thrown in between. This technique worked a treat and on both days of the event, Peter bagged out quickly, which gave him plenty of time to find upgrades. He

6lb Yamatoyo fluorocarbon leader material. Also worth mentioning is that Peter took home $400 in cash and a prize pack which comprised of many fantastic products from our sponsors. This included a $100 voucher to both of Albany’s leading tackle stores, Trailblazers and Albany Rods & Tackle. During the presentation, Peter thanked the organisers and also the event sponsors for their support in making this event happen. Rounding out the top three of the Pro division was Paul Burton who finished in second weighing in a full bag each day to record a final weight of 6.280kg, and third place went to Alex Greisdorf, who weighed in a full bag each day to record a final weight of 5.310kg. NO AMATEUR HOUR FOR AMATEURS DIVISION Leading the race from start to finish in the Amatuer divison was Graeme Kovacevich, who won by nearly a kilo to the nearest competitor by weighing in a full bag each day to record a final weight of 7.74kg. Graeme was part of the 2018 WA Bream Classics Boat Series team of the year and he showed the rest of the field why he earned that accolade, with such a solid

he slowly took up the slack in his line and loaded into each fish in order to achieve a decent hook up. This was vital, given the size of the fish he was catching, as you don’t want to be losing fish of the quality he was consistently catching both days. Graeme’s skilful use of his 50 mm Cranka Crabs was achieved by using a 7’ 2-7lb Nordic Stage Areal Pro rod, which was equipped with a Daiwa 2506 Emeraldas reel.

sponsors for getting behind the event. Rounding out the remaining anglers on the Amateur division podium was Adam Smith who weighed in a full bag each day to record a very impressive final weight of 6.480kg, and third place went to Rhys Black who also weighed in a full bag each

Albany local Callum Dowell always knows where to find the bream on his local waterway.

day to record a final weight of 4.490kg. Big bag weights means big fish, and this meant it was going to take a solid bream to win the big bream prize for each day of the event. Winning the big bream prize of $100 cash on the first day was Alex Greisdorf, who weighed in a 1.03kg bream. On the second day, Paul Burton brought back an absolute beast of a bream, which measured 45cm and weighed 1.37kg to take home the $100 big bream prize. So that wraps up the 2019 WATA Pro/Am event in Albany. Every team caught fish on both days, new friends were made and people shared their knowledge with one another, which made up for a brilliant weekend away for everyone. WATA would like to thank the Albany Boating and Fishing club, Trailblazers, Albany Rods & Tackle and the rest of their sponsors. – WATA

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR MAY

2019

4-5 May

ABT BREAM Rnd 5 Blackwood

www.abt.org.au

19 May

WA Bream Classic Kayak Series Rnd 2 – Swan River

watournamentanglers.com.au

JUNE

Jun 9

WA Bream Classic Boat Series Rnd 2 – Murray River

watournamentanglers.com.au

OCTOBER

Oct 6

WA Bream Classic Kayak Series Rnd 3 – Moore River

watournamentanglers.com.au

Oct 20

WA Bream Classic Boat Series Rnd 3 – Blackwood River

watournamentanglers.com.au

Nov 9-10

WA Bream Classic Kayak Series GF – Swan River

watournamentanglers.com.au

NOVEMBER

Add your tournament or competition to this list by emailing jthomas@fishingmonthly.com.au or calling 07 3387 0800 in office hours. Just supply a date, venue, tournament name and a telephone number and contact name. MAY 2019

McKeown breaks weight record at BREAM Open Jamie McKeown is a local Gold Coast angler who most fishers fear on his home waterway, but living nearly 1000km away from Sydney, he went into the Daiwa BREAM Australian Open a bit of an underdog, with so many Sydney locals fishing this comp. Jamie went into this comp just wanting to catch his five fish limit every day. The Daiwa BREAM Australian Open is a marathon of a competition, requiring anglers to compete for three days with sevenhour sessions. The comp was held at two venues, Sydney Harbour for day one and three, and the Hawkesbury River day two. With this in mind, McKeown went and fished what he knows best: Cranka Crabs. Day one at Sydney Harbour saw McKeown fishing two areas called the Wedding Cakes, and Sow and Pigs. He made a quick pass of the Wedding Cakes and got nothing. So he strapped everything down and headed to Sow and Pigs. It wasn’t long before he knew he had made the right move, catching his limit fairly quickly, but was wise

Those who finished on the podium, Jamie McKeown, Ross Cannizzaro and Mark Crompton, fought a fierce battle in Sydney’s premier bream fisheries. enough not to fish it too hard, tactically moving along 50m or so every 5-10 minutes and not fishing. On day one he weighed a great bag of five bream for a weight of 4.43kg, which had him in second place for the start of day two. Day two on the Hawkesbury River saw a completely different set of circumtances. Going into day two, McKeown had some time to kill, as he was waiting for the top of the tide for his key areas to fire. He had a look around Cowan and America Bay, catching three small fish on bent minnow style lures. By

then, the tide had filled and he headed upriver between Bar Point and Spencer. He wanted to concentrate on throwing Cranka Crabs on rock walls in anywhere from 3-6m deep with the falling tide run. Once again, he made the right move at the right time, catching two nice fish back-to-back, before upgrading the three rats he had caught earlier. Although his bag wasn’t as big as day one’s, his five fish for 4.08kg was enough to keep him in second place going into day three. It was back to Sydney Harbour for day three, and Jamie went into it knowing he

had a shot at winning, being only 800g from the leader and last year’s winner Mark Crompton. He headed to Sow and Pigs that had been so kind to him on day one, hoping that it had replenished from

his first day there. It had, and he bagged out around 8:30am, but not long after that a seal showed up and shut everything down. McKeown went and had a look at the Wedding Cakes and Spit Bridge once again for nothing, so headed back to his honey hole and luckily the seal had left. He sat there for the rest of the day upgrading nearly his whole bag, except for a 36 forker he caught there earlier in the day. Once again, all fish were caught on 65mm Cranka Crab Custom Heavys in olive and spotted. He headed in a little early, as his electric motor had run out, which left him wondering whether he had enough weight with his bag of five bream. It was a nail bitting weigh-in, with lots of good bags coming in, but he knew it would come down to the final three to weigh-in, Mark Crompton, himself and Ross Cannizzaro. Cannizzaro was in the hot seat, taking the lead with a

Scan the QR code to see the Australian Open day one highlights. 4.98kg bag. Jamie needed 4.90kg to take the lead, and when the button was pushed Jamie’s bag dragged the scale down to 4.98kg! He had caught the same weight as Cannizzaro and taken the lead by 80g. Day two leader and champ for 2018 Mark Crompton ended up weighing a limit, but only had a 2.95kg sack, which gave Jamie McKeown the win for the 2019 Daiwa BREAM Australian Open!

BOATER’S WINNING GEAR

Scan the QR code to see Aus Open winner Jamie McKeown interview.

Rod Reel Line Lure

Samaki Archer 691 Ecooda Black Hawk Sufix 10lb Coastal Braid and 8lb Sufix leader Cranka Crab 65mm custom Cranka Crab Custom Heavy in olive and spotted

Visit www.abt.org.au for entry forms. For general enquiries phone ABT on (07) 3387 0888 48

MAY 2019

The picture that paints a thousand words: maybe next year, Ross.

Cannizzaro bridesmaid once again Ross Cannizzaro is a Sydney local and always a favourite in the Harbour and Hawkesbury River, and some say the bream in these systems are his pets. They just don’t seem to do what he wants come Bream Open time! This is one comp Cannizzaro has never won, and unfortunately this year wasn’t his year either, coming second to Jamie McKeown by only 80g. For day one on the Harbour, Cannizzaro started his day fishing from Goat Island to Manly, skip casting a 2.5” Gulp Crabby in camo colour under boat hulls. Cannizzaro says by skipping the lure deep under hulls and getting his bait in the shade, the fish would eat it

on the drop. If he didn’t get a hit on the first two casts, he would go on to the next boat and repeat the process. This technique filled his bag, but he knew they weren’t big enough to win. So he went to the edges, fishing vertical structure such as rock walls, poles and jetties. Here Cannizzaro fished something new to him, a Cranka Crab, and as Cranka Crabs tend to do, they got him the bigger bites that he needed to upgrade a few times and saw him bringing a 3.54kg bag to the scales. Day two on the Hawkesbury had Cannizzaro heading upriver past Spencer to fish the rock walls and edges using a Berkley Gulp Pulse Craw Ross Cannizzaro landed some impressive fish to earn him second place.

Jamie McKeown came from below to claim victory in the Daiwa BREAM Australian Open.

on a 1/8oz jighead and Berkley Bigeye Blades. Cannizzaro was casting his Bigeye Blade tight to the edge and hopping it down to around 15ft. The fish would either take the blade on the drop after a little hop, or while it was just sitting on the bottom doing nothing, where he would go for the next hop and there would be weight on the line. The Pulse Craw he fished was much the same way, but it got most bites while dead sticked on the bottom, with the 1/8oz jighead keeping it on the bottom, even in a strong current. Day two saw him with five fish for a total 4.87kg.

The finish line showed an impressive cross section of boats and anglers.

On returning to Sydney Harbour, Cannizzaro knew he needed big fish on this final day to win, so he did his milk run, quickly filling his bag like he had on day one with a lure that has been so good to him over the years, the Berkley Gulp Crabby. He felt he was going to need something else to take the win this year, so he went to the dark side and tied on a Cranka Crab, and yes, that crab worked its magic. Cannizzaro pitched it into poles, jetties and rock walls, quickly upgrading his whole bag. Cannizzaro ended up weighing 4.98kg, earning him second place by only 80g.

Scan the QR code to see Aus Open runner up Ross Cannizzaro interview.

Last year’s winner Mark Crompton scored himself a third in this year’s Open.

The top five anglers show off their respective share of the winnings.

BREAM AUSTRALIAN OPEN RESULTS

Scan the QR code to see the Australian Open day two highlights.

Place Name 1 Jamie McKeown 2 Ross Cannizzaro 3 Mark Crompton 4 Liam Carruthers 5 Daniel Bonaccorso 6 Michael Colotouros 7 Mark Healey 8 Kristoffer Hickson 9 Tom Slater 10 Steve Morgan

Total Fish Total Weight (kg) Prize 15/15 13.47 $5000 15/15 13.39 $3500 15/15 12.34 $2500 15/15 12.03 $2000 15/15 11.93 $1000 15/15 11.39 Daiwa Prize Pack 15/15 11.24 Daiwa Prize Pack 15/15 11.02 Daiwa Prize Pack 15/15 10.86 Daiwa Prize Pack 15/15 10.39 Daiwa Prize Pack

Scan the QR code to see the Australian Open day three highlights. MAY 2019

Langley takes maiden boater win with $5 fuel bill Paul Langley has been fishing ABT BREAM tournaments for quite a few years now, competing in the non-boater ranks. He was the quiet achiever, never one to be seen at the tubs boasting about his catch or worrying about what anyone else had caught. Langley just fished each comp as it came and enjoyed tournament BREAM fishing for its own sake. But recently, after buying a bass boat, he has stepped it up to join the boaters. While his first boating comp at South West Rocks turned out to be a dreaded double doughnut, coming into his second event as a boater in the ABT Costa BREAM series, he was pretty calm, considering his last outing. He had fished Botany Bay only a few weeks before, and having found the fish on the edges, that’s what he based his pre-fish on. Through the pre-fish day he wasn’t happy with the size or number of fish he was catching, but looking on Google Maps he found a deep reef that looked pretty good and ended up producing a nice fish from it.

BOATER’S WINNING GEAR Rod Reel Line Lure

Pflueger Trion 1-3 kg UL Shimano 2500 9lb Yamatoyo braid and 6lb leader Cranka Crab Heavy in olive

the bottom. Fishing was a little slow, with him only picking up two fish early. He was worried if his little 100m stretch of reef would handle two days fishing, but he stuck it out, knowing that if they bit like the day

before, it would be worth it. It wasn’t until around 11am that things picked up and Langley was able to fill his limit of five fish, giving him a 3.40kg bag and a total of 7kg to take the win at the Botany Bay round!

Paul Langley with his winner’s haul from the ABT BREAM Botany Bay round. Going into day one of the ABT Daiwa Botany round, Langley made the choice to go back to his reef. Only 400m away from the start line, it didn’t take him long to get a line in the water. Fishing this reef in around 4-5m, his lure of choice was the old faithful Cranka Crab

Heavy in olive. Langley was drifting backwards and forwards on one patch of reef all day. Casting his crab out, sinking it to the bottom and dragging it slowly along the reef saw him picking fish up consistently, and even upgrading a few times. He filled his limit of bream on

day one with a bag weighing 3.60kg. Day one’s efforts had him sitting in first place for day two. On day two, Langley made the same 400m run from the start line. Langley started on his deep crab pattern in 5m of water, dragging it along

Paul showing off some of the fish that helped him win.

BOATER RESULTS

Scan the QR code to see Boater winner, Paul Langley interview.

Place Name 1 Paul Langley 2 Grant Kime 3 Peter Cook 4 Todd Riches 5 Mark Crompton 6 Daniel Bonaccorso 7 Richard Potter 8 Ross Cannizzaro 9 Christian Wardini 10 Jamie McKeown

Visit www.abt.org.au for entry forms. For general enquiries phone ABT on (07) 3387 0888 50

MAY 2019

Total Fish Total Weight (kg) Prize 10/10 7.00 $3000 + $500 Mercury Bonus 10/10 6.43 $1750 + $300 Mercury Bonus 10/10 6.04 $1200 8/10 5.80 $900 10/10 5.77 $800 10/10 5.65 $700 10/10 5.59 $600 10/10 5.50 $500 10/10 5.41 9/10 5.38 $200 Mercury Bonus

Scan the QR code to see Botany Bay day one highlights.

BREAM Series presented by

Kimey slides into second Grant Kime, the 2016 ABT Costa BREAM Grand Final winner, is

no stranger to the bream tournaments. Coming from the St Georges Basin area,

NON-BOATER FIRST PLACE GEAR Rod Reel Line Lures

Daiwa Silver Wolf Daiwa Silver Wolf 2004 Daiwa Evo 8 and Sunline 8lb leader Jackall Chubby, ZMan GrubZ and Slim SwimZ in motor oil rigged on 1/12oz TTs HeadlockZ

Scan the QR code to see Botany Bay day two highlights.

he doesn’t mind a bit of flats fishing or blading in the deep, so the 2019 ABT Daiwa Botany round played nearly into his hands. On day one Kime fished an area called the Towra flats early, with this area being fairly shallow. The area only produced three bites, but one of those bites ended up being a nice fish over the 1kg mark, which he unfortunately dropped boatside. He says he hung around too long hoping to

get more bites like that, a decision that cost him. After spending another half an hour for nothing, he moved on. Kime hit another area that he caught some fish in on the practise day, and found this is where he should have been all along, filling his bag in less than an hour. Kime was using an Ecogear VX40 blade in 439 pattern in 20ft of water, fishing it with short hops along the bottom. He said that 439 was exactly the same colour as some cockle shells a bream had spewed on the deck. His day one bag tipping the scales at 2.73kg. Day two saw Grant head straight back to his spot, not wasting time anywhere else. This area was wide of the Towra flats in 20ft of water. He got into them straight away, catching almost a fish a cast for half an hour. He ended up filling an impressive bag quite quickly, but had a lightbulb

BREAM SERIES

Second place boater Grant Kime fished hard, but unfortunately fell just short of a win. moment and noticed a tug in the distance stirring the bottom up. His first cast into the area saw him hooked up, and the next hour was spent upgrading his whole bag.

Bringing the biggest bag to the scales for the whole comp at 3.70kg, it may have been that kilo fish he lost at the boat that cost him first place!

Scan the QR code to see Non-Boater winner, Stuart Walker interview.

Walker wins again Stuart Walker is one Kiwi we’ll happily take as our own, winning multiple events and taking out Angler of the Year four years in a row, and it’s no surprise to see him take a win in the ABT Costa BREAM series once again. Walker definitely had a slow day fishing on day one with Russell Babekull, who fished oyster racks all day. He only caught two fish for the session, but one of them was a cracking bream

weighing 1.2kg, which ate a Jackall Chubby, and the other, smaller fish took a ZMan Slim SwimZ in motor oil. His day one bag only weighed 1.72kg, but if anyone can come back from a day like that, it is Stuart Walker. Going into day two, fishing with day one boating leader Paul Langley, Walker definitely made the most of it. On day two Walker made that 400m with Paul Langley, fishing Langley’s little 5m deep reef. Walker landed

two fish pretty quickly and thought to himself that it was going to be a good day, however it went quiet soon after. With the watch tightening, he was a little worried. Come 11am, the fish were on again. He filled his limit by 12pm. Fishing a mix of ZMan Slim SwimZ and GrubZ, he ended up with a limit of five fish weighing 3.39kg, with a total weight of 5.11kg. Stuart Walker had won it again!

Paul Langley came out on top in his second competition as a boater, having not weighed a single fish in his first comp last year.

Rocket takes Big Bream Rodney O’Sullivan ended up winning the Daiwa J Braid Big Bream prize, taking home $500 plus a Daiwa

J Braid prize pack. Rodney said it wasn’t rocket science to catch this 1.4kg bruiser. He just calmly waited for his

boater Chris Seeto to finish crankbaiting a boat hull, and then cast his Cranka Crab Heavy in olive into the back of the boat. The giant fish ate the crab on the drop!

Stuart Walker claims another non-boater win in the BREAM series.

NON-BOATER RESULTS

Rodney O’Sullivan’s 1.4kg bruiser Botany bream.

Place Name 1 Stuart Walker 2 Peter Breukel 3 Rodney O’Sullivan 4 Adam Costa 5 William Lee 6 Louie Wardini 7 Neil Kelly 8 Tani Konsul 9 Josh Carpenter 10 Dallas Blatchford

Total Fish Total Weight (kg) Prize 7/10 5.11 Daiwa Prize Pack + $200 Hobie Bonus 8/10 4.00 Fish-Tec Prize Pack + $100 Hobie Bonus 6/10 3.78 Cranka Lures Prize Pack + $500 (Big Bream) 7/10 3.68 TTs Prize Pack + $75 Hobie Bonus 6/10 3.64 Sufix Prize Pack 6/10 3.64 Ecogear Prize Pack 4/10 3.32 Shimano Prize Pack 7/10 3.11 Lucky Craft Prize Pack 6/10 2.80 Keitech Prize Pack 5/10 2.62 Sunline Prize Pack MAY 2019

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EXMOUTH

TackleHQ Kingsley (08) 9309 4200 WA Bait Supply O’Connor (08) 9314 1755 Castaway Tackle Malaga (08) 9248 3800 Gun-Mart & Tackle Midvale (08) 9274 5699 Earlybird Bait Rockingham (08) 9527 3333 Tackle West Beckenham (08) 9350 6278

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

FISHING GUIDES/CHARTERS

Bluewater Tackle World Morley (08) 9375 9800 Bluewater Tackle World Myaree (08) 9330 7766 Bluewater Tackle World Joondalup (08) 6244 0344 Bluewater Tackle Mindarie (08) 9407 9766 Tim’s Tackle Plus Guildford (08) 6161 0044 Baitmate-Bricap Wangara (08) 9309 5474 Compleat Angler Nedlands (08) 9389 1337 Anglers Anonymous Fishing Tackle Supplies Canning Vale (08) 9455 2521 Tackle World Miami (08) 9534 5533 Dawe’s Bait & Tackle Mandurah (08) 9534 6661 Fishing WA Pro Tackle Wangara (08) 9409 2253 Hillarys Boat & Tackle Hillarys (08) 9401 4331 Sportsmarine Bunbury (08) 9721 4961 Anglers Fishing World South Fremantle (08) 9433 4768

Apache Charters South Fremantle (08) 9339 2432 West End Charters Winthrop WA 6150 (08) 9332 4303 Blue Juice Charters (08) 9401 4666 Mills Charters Hillarys (08) 9246 5334 Achievement Charters Fremantle 0418 655 188 Port Bouvard Charters Wannanup 0477 347 465 Blue Horizon Fishing Charters Exmouth 08) 9949 1620 Fly Fishing Frontiers Exmouth 0427 366 142 Top Gun Charters EXMOUTH 0418 925 131 Diversity Bluewater Adventures Exmouth Exmouth 0488 009 989 Set The Hook Exmouth 0433 049 988 Esperance Diving And Fishing Esperance (08) 9071 5111 Duke Charters Condingup (08) 9076 6223 Black Jack Charters Bandy Creek 0429 106 960 Spinners Charters Emu Point (08) 9844 1906 Great Southern Discovery Albany 0455 105 127 SHIKARI Charters Fremantle 0412 131 958 Evolution Fishing Charters 0477 901 445 Kalbarri land Based fishing Carters 0418930695 Tailored Treks - Lancelin 0427 941 126 Perth Fishing Safaris 0422 686 363

ONLINE TACKLE PRODUCTS FG Wizz www.fgwizz.com.au

NOW YOU CAN TIE THE PERFECT FG KNOT EVERY TIME

Anglers Fishing World Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour Mews Road, Fremantle WA 6160

(08) 9433 4768 www.anglersfishingworld.com.au Tackle World & Outdoors Mandurah (08) 9581 6953 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

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 Albany Rods & Tackle (08) 9841 1231 Trailblazers Albany (08) 9841 7859

ESPERANCE Tatey’s Bait ‘n’ Tackle Castletown (08) 9071 5003 Esperance Camping & Workwear Esperance (08) 9071 2142

DONGARA & GERALDTON Dongara Sport & Tackle Dongara (08) 9927 1196 Geraldton Sports Centre (08) 9921 3664 Getaway Outdoors Geraldton (08) 9965 3766

CARNARVON Carnarvon Tackle & Marine (08) 9941 4161

Denmark Rivermouth Caravan Park Denmark (08) 9848 1262 Karri Aura Caravan Park & Motel Suites Shadforth (08) 9848 2200 Denmark Waterfront Denmark (08) 9848 1147

WALPOLE – MANJIMUP – PEMBERTON Peaceful Bay Chalets Peaceful Bay (08) 9840 8169 Rest Point Holiday Village Walpole (08) 9840 1032 Coalmine Beach Holiday Park Walpole (08) 9840 1026 Riverside Retreat Walpole, (08) 9840 1255 Nornalup Riverside Chalets Nornalup (08) 9840 1107 Warren Way Caravan Park Balbarrup (08) 9771 1060 Manjimup Central Caravan Park & Deli Manjimup (08) 9777 2355 Big Brook Arboretum Pemberton (08) 9776 1207 One Tree Bridge Chalets Manjimup (08) 9777 1196

AUGUSTA Flinders Bay Caravan Park Augusta (08) 9780 5636 Molloy Caravan Park Kudardup (08) 9758 4515 Hamelin Bay Holiday Park Hamelin Bay (08) 9758 5540 Sheoak Chalets Augusta Augusta (08) 9758 1958

MARGARET RIVER Prevelly Caravan Park Prevelly Park (08) 9757 2374 Gracetown Caravan Park Gracetown (08) 9755 5301 Riverview Tourist Park Margaret River (08) 9757 2270 Margaret River Tourist Park (08) 9757 2180

YALLINGUP – DUNSBOROUGH Caves Caravan Park Yallingup (08) 9755 2196 Yallingup Beach Holiday Park 1800 220 002 Dunsborough Beach Cottages (08) 9756 8885

BUSSELTON Busselton Villas & Caravan Park Busselton (08) 9752 1175 Geographe Bay Holiday Park Busselton (08) 9752 4396 Lazy Days Holiday Park Busselton (08) 9752 1780 Amblin Holiday Park Busselton (08) 9755 4079 Busselton Holiday Village Busselton (08) 9752 4499 Sandy Bay Holiday Park Busselton (08) 9752 2003 Fourseasons Holiday Park Busselton (08) 9755 4082 Busselton Beachfron Busselton (08) 9755 2607

BUNBURY Bunbury Glade Caravan Park Bunbury 1800 113 800 Discovery Parks - Bunbury (08) 9795 7100 Binningup Beach Caravan Park Bunbury (08) 9720 1057 Riverside Cabin Park Bunbury (08) 9725 1234 Waterloo Village Caravan Park Bunbury (08) 9725 4434 Brunswick Junction Caravan Park Bunbury (08) 9726 1544 Taralea Farm Bunbury (08) 9728 1252

MANDURAH

NO MORE bulky braid/leader joins

SEE IT! .. BUY IT! .. www.fgwizz.com.au HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION ESPERANCE Bathers Paradise Caravan Park Esperance (08) 9071 1014 Pine Grove Holiday Park Esperance (08) 9071 4100 Pink Lake Tourist Park Nulsen (08) 9071 2424 Ocean Beach Holiday Units Esperance (08) 9071 5942 Esperance Chalet Village Bandy Creek (08) 9071 1861 Munglinup Beach Holiday Park Munglinup (08) 9075 1155

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 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. 54

MAY 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 MAY 2019

WHAT’S NEW BOATING BOAT RAMP FINDER AUS

The Australian Boat Ramp Finder has been redeveloped and relaunched on the Apple App store. Australian Boat Ramp Finder has more than 1500 boat ramp locations around Australia, and users can search ‘Nearby’ and get the nearest locations of ramps by distance. You can also search ‘By Location’, and get the result from a specific area, which is particularly useful when you’re planning a trip or are browsing from the couch. There’s the option to view a list of locations or you can map your results. If you select a location you will get the nearest address and a suggested route to that ramp location. The developers are planning to add more info including photos, number of lanes, ramp surface (concrete, dirt etc) and the current state of repair. The app is available for free on iPhone and iPad only, with an Android version in development. Be sure to seek local advice before using any ramp. www.facebook.com/AustralianBoat RampFinder

GARMIN ECHOMAP ULTRA

The Garmin echoMAP Ultra series is a new line of keyed-assist 10” and 12” touchscreen chartplotters that bring professional performance to inland and nearshore anglers. The Ultra series has built-in support for Garmin’s Ultra HD scanning sonar as well as the Panoptix LiveScope series, which delivers live scanning sonar images of structure, bait and fish below and around the boat in real time. The Ultra 106sv and Ultra 126sv are available bundled with the new Ultra HD GT54UHD-TM all-in-one transducer that provides the highest ClearVü and SideVü scanning sonar images and CHIRP traditional sonar. The GT54UHDTM’s SideVü operates at 455kHz. Ultra chartplotters are also compatible with the full line of Panoptix all-seeing sonar transducers, so anglers can see real-time sonar imagery at video-like speed. The 105sv and 125sv are also available without a bundled transducer. These new chartplotters are preloaded with Australia BlueChart g2 vision HD cartography, and are expected to be available in Q2 2019. For the full list of features visit the Garmin website. Price: SRP $2999-$3999 www.garmin.com

LIGHTARMOR NAV LIGHTS

LightArmor fast action navigation lights are a new line of bi-colour and all-round lights. LightArmor’s unique composite pole has superior flexibility, impact resistance and durability. It will bend, but won’t break – so anglers can manoeuvre through low-hanging obstacles with confidence. Boaters will also appreciate the pole’s subtle, glare-free black matte finish. These lights feature premium LED light engine technology that meets today’s global regulatory requirements, and which lasts for 50,000 hours. They are built with top-quality materials for lasting durability, appearance, and performance, and have a range of complementary plug-in bases. The All-Round Lights feature an articulating head that adjusts 15° fore to 15° aft, and the Bi-Colour Lights feature tell-tale indicator lights to show when lights are on. One model is available with a task light option. Other features include an impact-resistant polycarbonate lens, 58

MAY 2019

PRODUCT GUIDE

water-resistant (IP67 certified); corrosion/ UV resistant; and a 10-year warranty. Price: from RRP $88 www.bla.com.au

NEW MERCURY MAX5 PROPS

Mercury Racing has expanded the MAX5 propeller family with a larger 15.25” diameter version as well as the all-new MAX5 ST. The MAX5 lab-finished prop delivers impressive results in both single and multipleengine applications, including Mercury Racing’s 400R outboard and 600 SCi sterndrive, with a reduction in propeller slip of up to 12%. The 15.25” diameter models offer an additional 3-4% reduction in slip (compared to the 15” models) on selected outboard and sterndrive applications that benefit from elevated transom heights. Half-inch pitch offerings enable engines to be dialled-in to their max rpm operating range for enhanced throttle response, optimised cruise fuel efficiency and optimal top speed. The new MAX5 ST prop is designed for the 4.6L V8 300R FourStroke outboard with Sport Master gearcase. The shortened exhaust barrel enhances the performance of single-engine and twin-engine boats. In testing, a 300R spinning a 31” pitch MAX5 ST prop powered a loaded Bullet 21 XRS bass boat to 157km/h with a mere 7% slip. www.mercuryracing.com

RAILBLAZA CAPTAIN’S HOOK

2 3

The Railblaza Captain’s Hook is an expandable low-profile solution for hanging your rods, spear guns, ropes, hoses, power cords, paddles and more. If you’ve ever walked into a hook sticking out from the side of a boat or wall, or tried to fit something onto a hook that’s not big enough, you’ll love this product. Simply screw it to the surface and tie a knot at each end of the cord. Simple! Supplied with stainless steel screws, the 1m length of cord can be cut shorter if needed. When not in use it is low profile to avoid catching people or clothes. The Captain’s Hook does not require a Railblaza for mounting, and it comes with the required screws. The maximum weight is 10kg per hook, and you need to choose a robust surface for installation as some surfaces may not support maximum load. www.railblaza.com

MERCURY FOURSTROKE SALE

Mercury is offering savings of up to $1500 on a selected range of 75-150hp FourStroke outboards. Following the positive reaction to the summer 40-60hp FourStroke sale, Mercury has now decided to go further, offering higher horsepower and higher savings. That means customers who already own a boat, or are shopping for a new one, now have the opportunity to secure a special deal on a new Mercury 75-150hp FourStroke outboard. This offer is open to both recreational and SeaPro commercial customers. To further assist boaties in securing this opportunity, Mercury Finance is offering deals at just 4.99%, with easy weekly repayments for customers upgrading an existing 40-15hp FourStroke engine. To take advantage of either offer you have to act before 31 May, 2019. Terms and conditions apply. Visit the Mercury Marine website to learn more or to find your nearest Mercury dealer. www.mercurymarine.com.au

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

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Online - ANYTIME

Bassco Tornado CC with 115hp Mercury Pro XS - SC

TENT -

RE ONLINE MO

Main: The Bassco Tornado is a locally designed and built centreconsole that is a rare combination – it holds a stack of tackle efficiently and you can seriously tackle oceanic species. Above: Wayne Mauger is equally at home on an estuary of Port Phillip Bay in his Tornado. You’ll notice that Wayne has accessorised his Tornado to the hilt. boats seemingly well built, but they will hold the gear of the biggest tackle junkie for a social or tournament angler. Bassco customer Wayne Mauger brought his Tornado along to the test day. He came out of an American built Triton bass boat into the Bassco and couldn’t be happier. “This boat does

SPECIFICATIONS Length........................................................5.0m Beam........................................................2.07m Transom.Deadrise ...................................... 20° Capacity ............................................ 4 persons Max.hp ..................................................... 115hp (special build 150hp available) Hull.Weight .............................................. 690kg 62

MAY 2019

everything that my bass boat used to do, but I can still get out and fish offshore,” Wayne said. “I like to sit down when I drive a centre console – which is unusual – but to me, this handles like a 7m boat,” he continued. Unfortunately, the test day was glamour , with not a ripple on the water, so we couldn’t independently test the tide in nasty conditions, but we did see how much tackle this thing gobbles up. With eight rods under the deck and another six around the console, the Tornado boasts 14-rod storage along with 20 tackle trays that are actually accessible. Whether you are needing

DE FOR EX

It’s hard not to get enthusiastic when talking to Michael Boag from Bassco boats. The Gippsland Lakes boat builder has a solid history in building big, dieselpowered fibreglass boats and only recently turned his hand to making smaller boats designed for fishing. Cleverly, though, when doing his R&D, Michael enlisted the help of anglers. “I know it’s a strange concept – actually talking to the guys who will use the boat,” he quipped sarcastically during the video interview (scan the QR code hereby for details), “but for me, layout and the ability for a boat to securely hold all of your gear and to keep it dry is a benchmark that I judge a fishing boat by.” After all, locally built craft have to compete with imported fishing boats that have had decades to evolve to a point where they are a pleasure to use. I’m happy to report that not only are the Bassco

s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

a livewell or a kill box, there’s a great, plumbed box under the console seat that serves both purposes. Powered by a 115hp Pro XS Mercury, this sure is a fun boat to drive. The 2.1L 4-stroke powerplant delivered great economy at 4,000rpm cruising speed (2.4km/L at 46km/h) but stretched out to a mid-70km/h maximum at 6,200rpm. There’s also a cavernous fuel tank underfloor, boasting 140L capacity and a theoretical range of around 350km, and that’s plenty for a weekend away! With a package price of $50,999 for the boat/motor and trailer, it’s up to you after that to accessorise with electronics and electric motors of your choosing. Wayne certainly hasn’t skimped in any of these

Steve Morgan

CON

AN THE

FMG

PERFORMANCE RPM...... Speed.(km/h) Idle .......................... 4 1000 ......................... 8 2000....................... 12 3000....................... 29 4000....................... 46 5000....................... 61 6000....................... 74 6200 ....................... 76 areas, with top of the line Humminbird and MinnKota gear finishing his rig exactly as he likes it. For more information, give Michael Boag a call on 0417 545 593 or visit their Facebook page (Bassco Boats). They don’t have a website yet, so don’t look for them there. But if you’re considering a local alternative to an imported fishing boat, you do need to throw a Bassco into the mix!

The Tornado jumps onto the plane easily with the 115 Pro XS Mercury. Wayne likes driving his centre console while sitting down.

Top: It’s impractical to flush mount a sounder into the console, yet the Humminbird fills the console top nicely. Above: Step up to the front deck for your lure casting. From the console forwards, it looks and fishes like a bass boat (but without any carpet).

There’s plenty of room to move up front – and the grab rail is a handy place to grab while you are doing so.

I dare any angler to be unimpressed by the cavernous central rod and tackle storage. This one holds 8 rods and 14 tackle trays, while being dry and secure.

Moderate transom deadrise offers a balance between wave cutting ability and shallow water draft.

Top: Plenty of anglers nowadays appreciate a carpet-free interior. You do your cleaning with a brush and hose rather than a wet-and-dry vacuum cleaner. Left: The transom is clean with access points contained behind access hatches Right: You can store more rods in the side pockets if 8 isn’t enough in the central locker. Too many rods isn’t enough.

Top: A single-axled trailer with mechanical override brakes is all that’s needed and this rig is towable behind most family cars. Left: Single-axled trailers allow for easier manoeuvrability in confined spaces – like a standard garage. Right: Mercury’s 2.1L 115 Pro XS 4-stroke is a class-leading power plant that adds excitement to any performance craft. It matches the red hull nicely, just quietly. It delivered maximum economy of 2.4km/L, giving a theoretical range of around 350km with the 140L fuel tank.

You know that the Tornado will turn heads at the ramp and on the water. The boat drives on and off the trailer with ease. MAY 2019