Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2016 i Fishing World

“The same can be said for all sports and pursuits. The successful ones are focused, sometimes to the point of obsession.” What does it take to become a skilled angler? Some say it’s patience or time spent on the water. That of course is true. One of the appeals of fishing is that it’s a life-long pursuit, and with a few exceptions, we get better at it with age. I can’t think of too many other sports where this applies. But there’s another way to become a better angler – specialising. While I know plenty of proficient "all-rounders", most top anglers are very focused on a species or style of fishing. I bet even those skilled all-rounders got that way by specialising over the years and bringing all those skills…

ACCORDING to a report released by the Nature Commucations journal, global fish stocks are falling three times faster than official numbers from the United Nations suggest. The Guardian newspaper reported that overfishing is being blamed for the overall decrease but the discrepancies in figures from the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation are believed to be a reporting failure on the part of sport, illegal and small scale fishing, as well as fish discarded at sea. The report is the result of a decade-long study from over 400 researchers around the world.The report highlights that while many fisheries have been exploited, certain stocks were being sustainably managed.…

PROUDLY SPONSORED BY RIDGELINE 3 IN 1 JACKET Ridgeline claims the Highlander jacket was its most innovative step forward in technology for 2015. The Highlander 3 in 1 can be worn as one large three-layer jacket to protect you against the harsh elements. From there it can also be split into 2 different light-weight jackets. One is a fleece base layer jacket and one is a waterproof outer shell. RRP $419.95 More info: www.ridgelineclothing.com.au SOCORRO RETURNS The Shimano Socorro Spin is back, but long-time fans may have a bit of trouble recognising these new reels. With a glossy black XT-7 body and gold anodised AR-C spool, the cosmetics are remarkably different, and internally it’s a much-improved reel as well. With the SW (Salt Water) designation they are built…

TECHNICAL EDITOR MARK WILLIAMS IS A HIGHLY EXPERIENCED ANGLER WHO WRITES REGULARLY FOR FISHO. ONE of the pleasures I get from writing this column is providing recognition to outstanding anglers, especially those quiet achievers who consistently make exceptional catches, yet somehow stay under the radar of the wider angling community. Some of these gun anglers that I’ve acknowledged over the years include Bob Williams, Scott Thorrington, Grant Ridley, Eugene Partridge and Steve Craine. The common denominator between all these highly successful anglers is they’ve largely built their reputations on their own local hard-fished waters. In the modern age of social media it’s relatively easy to build a reputation as a good fisho if you’ve got the cash to travel to exotic remote locations with hordes of fish that have never…

PROUDLY SPONSORED BY EMAIL: COMPS@FISHO.COM.AU SNAIL MAIL: GPO BOX 606 SYDNEY NSW 2001 FAX: (02) 92812750. ACTION CAMS FOR FISHING Q I’m currently looking around for a waterproof video camera to film some of our fishing exploits. I do a lot of estuary fishing with mates and I reckon we would get some good footage to look back on now and then if we had a waterproof video camera. There’s a heap of action cameras out there these days so what should I look for and how much should I spend on something that’s going to work and last? What about editing the footage at home? Jason Sinclair – Via email A There are several video cameras on the market that will do an excellent job. A few tips.…

Q&A Trolling Rivers Q Can you troll rivers for bream and flathead? Tracey – e-mail A Most certainly our coastal rivers, lakes and basins can be trolled for species such as bream and flathead but don’t be surprised if the odd whiting, tailor or luderick are caught as well. Regular Fishing World writer David Green is an avid fan of trolling the rivers of the Gold Coast in Queensland and he catches some exceptionally big flathead. Do keep in mind if are lucky to land a big flathead it is probably best to get a photo and release if above 75cm. In my experience the best method I’ve found is to troll adjacent to weed beds or rock walls where fish should be waiting for food. I place one…

“A quick grunt in the night, a call of ‘I’m on’ then a short period of hand-slapping the surface provided what was needed for a fraudulent claim.” UNFORTUNATELY some anglers can’t be trusted. Some blokes feel the need to advertise their successes, yet they hold their fishing spots so jealously that they lie to protect them. Others “embellish” both the number of fish caught and their size. The former I can cope with, but to my mind it’s better to say nothing if you don’t want to share your spot. But it’s the second group of tall-tale tellers, the outright bull artists, that get up my nose. Not too long ago I took a guy jewie fishing and we caught nothing. A few weeks later a mate commented on that…

Minn Kota Micro remote THE Micro Remote provides quick command of speed, steering, Spot-Lock, Advanced AutoPilot and prop on/ off, all from a compact design. It’s waterproof, it floats and comes standard with a neck lanyard. The remote suits both i-Pilot and i-Pilot Link systems, and works along with the existing remotes. “If you’re already using your Link or i-Pilot remote, you can add the micro model as well, allowing three remotes per motor,” said Justin Welsh, brand manager. “One of the benefits of having multiple remotes on board is so that you and your mates can easily take over driving if either of you hooks up to a fish.” RRP $299 More info at www.minnkota.com.au . Garmin EchoMAP PACKED with Garmin’s latest sonar and mapping technologies,…

AVID Darwin angler Brendan Griffiths made the comfortable and leisurely one hour drive from Darwin to the Lake Bennett Wilderness Resort, an artificial lake 80 kilometres from Darwin. Bennett is an 81 hectare freshwater lake formed from a dam in the early 1980s. It was stocked with 52,000 barra fingerlings in mid 2004 by the NT Recreational Fishing Unit. Void of crocodiles this recreational lake is known for its safe fishing, swimming and canoeing. Brendan and his partner Lauren Prosser were there with friends to see in the new year and for Lauren to test out her new pink spin outfit she received for Christmas. As festivities got under way Lauren thought she would try her luck casting from the cabin’s pontoon and immediately hooked and lost a big fish.…

ROCK fishers in NSW will be forced to wear lifejackets under new legislation. NSW Emergency Services Minister David Elliot said the new laws would be introduced soon, according to a report on the ABC. “What we are saying to the people of NSW today is that if you enjoy rock-fishing, that’s fantastic, but we want you to get home. You have to wear a life-jacket if you are in a high-risk area,” said the Minister. “Unfortunately, it has taken 37 deaths for this legislation to come through.” Elliot said the penalties for not wearing a life jacket in these areas would be similar to those for on-water activities. “This is legislation that has been forced on the Government because people have not heeded the public safety campaigns in the past,”…

“It was quite slow, and we had been trolling for about an hour when Mark yelled out ‘Snake!’.” A LONG-TIME FISHO CORRESPONDENT, DAVID GREEN ENJOYS CATCHING EVERYTHING FROM FLATHEAD TO MARLIN. I GREW up as one of those feral kids who had a backyard and a bedroom full of snakes and lizards. This was in the period before keeping reptiles was in anyway regulated, and at the time if you caught it you could keep it. Lots of kids I knew in my local area of West Pennant Hills in Sydney were quite similar, and the number of snakes and lizards we had in various cages, fish tanks and out of ground swimming pools was quite amazing. Reptile collecting trips were a bit like fishing was at the time, with…

THIS MONTH’S WINNER TIC TAC BOXES For small pieces of terminal tackle, things like swivels, sinkers, clips, and small hooks, I’ve always had a problem with storage. That’s until I discovered empty Tic Tac boxes. These cheap boxes are useful to use after you’ve finsihed with your mints. Being clear it’s easy to see what’s inside and the handy latch on top keeps your gear secure until you need something. As a bonus, you’ll always have fresh breath! Mike Mclean - Southport, QLD. * ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Send us a digital photo of your handy hint in action, with a 50-60 word description. Rigs, knots and hints for any fishing application are acceptable. The lucky winner will get his/her idea published, and will receive a 135m spool of Rovex Viris…

1 Six-year-old Hope Liapis from Mill Park in Victoria pictured here with her first squid. Well done, Hope, and your dog too! 2 13-year-old Sean Francis from Brisbane caught this 88cm kingfish in Moreton Bay. A great catch, Sean, especially on 10lb line! 3 Three-year-old Sam Tubridy from Fairy Meadow caught his first fish, this tarwhine, while trolling in Lake Conjola. Well done buddy. 4 Charlotte Elmore from Bushland Beach QLD caught this great flathead off the beach in Townsville. Well done, Charlotte! 5 Nine-year-old Mackenzie Weatherly from Tenterfield was on holiday in Ballina when she caught this lovely whiting on a local green prawn. Great stuff, Mackenzie!…

If you want to get into night fly fishing for lake trout there are a few essential items you’ll need. Depending on the time of year, waders should be one of the first items packed. Early spring can still be pretty cold in the high country so quality chest waders can help keep the cold out and have you fishing longer at night. Thigh waders are also a less expensive option, especially for use over summer and autumn. Just remember, if you use a boat to reach your locations wearing waders is highly dangerous in the event of a capsize. A quality headtorch is another essential item. Most LED models have different output modes, including red, which is useful for seeing when rigging and landing fish without lighting up everything…

FORMOSA boats started up in Brisbane back in 1998 building quality pressed aluminium hulls. The company’s growth has been steady with a long list of upgrades and quality improvements. In 2006 it went over to plate hulls after searching for a stronger and overall superior quality boat. It was this upgrade that resulted in the distinctive high-flared bow that makes Formosas instantly recognisable on the water. In 2009 it introduced the Tomahawk range and in 2011 the MK3 Classic hull evolved. That steady progression of improvements and refinements has resulted in the 620 Tomahawk V2 centre cabin that I recently tested at Batemans Bay with dealer, Aussie Boat Sales. Jason Graham and his wife Johanna run Aussie Boat Sales ACT NSW in Canberra. They recently opened up a sales office…

EVER noticed on some packets of imported green prawns the tag line “not for use as bait”? It’s because some prawn viruses are resistant to freezing and it’s feared that they could infect and damage local prawn stocks if they got free as the prawns defrosted when used as bait. Now the good news is that these viruses have no effect on humans so it’s quite safe to keep a bag of frozen green prawns in the freezer for use in curries or stir fries. They’re usually from Thailand or Indonesia and are either vannamei or black tiger varieties. Both are also available as cooked product in most fish markets and major retailers at a lower price than locally caught or farmed prawns. Despite scare campaigns regularly run in the…

TWO major fish kills, two quite different causes. WA Fisheries reports that the Pilbara coast kill of thousands of baitfish was most likely caused by a combination of high water temperatures and low dissolved oxygen levels when the fish were confined in a small tidal catchment at low tide. The more dramatic Cockburn Sound snapper kill appears to have been caused by a toxic algal bloom, which resulted from high nutrient load, high water temperatures and reduced flushing conditions.…

“For a blank so light with the particular taper it was very sharp and responsive when pushing out the light bream and bass lures.” FISHO editor Scott Thomas recently asked me to build an ultralight baitcaster rod that would allow him to cast tiny lures. Scott wanted this particular rod to fish specifically for bass and EPs with his trusty Shimano Chronarch and newly acquired Curado 70HG. The rod also wouldn't be out of place chasing bream and flatties. Scott had already spoken to United Tackle for a suitable blank. The blank chosen for this “ultra-light” build was United Composite’s UC 601. While the blank is very slender and is built with a moderate taper, it does have plenty of integrity down on the lower end. In layman's terms, it…

Yellowtail kingfish are a highly sought after recreational species mainly due to their fighting ability and eating qualities. Commonly caught off NSW around reefs and Fish Aggregation Devices (FADs), it was not uncommon for Victorian based anglers to travel to places like Eden and Narooma to target them. Historically (prior to 1990) yellowtail kingfish were caught by recreational anglers at various locations across Victoria including Mallacoota, Wilsons Promontory, Port Phillip Heads and Portland. While the number of fish taken was not as high as those from other states (particularly NSW), fish were sometimes very large (up to 40kg). From the mid 1990s through the early 2000s both the number and size of fish taken has decreased and general interest in targeting kingfish declined. Many fishers believed the cause of decline…

Downrigger Flathead! Nine-year-old Nathan Richards from the ACT caught this 75cm flatty trolling with a Micro Mullet from a downrigger. A very technical catch Nathan, well done! Each month we will select a Pic of the Month Major Prize Winner as well as FIVE other lucky winners for our Grin & Win section. Pic of the Month winners receive ALL of the great prizes you see here, while Grin & Win kids will each receive a cool Shimano cap and Squidgy DVD (right)! E-mail your entry and contact details to: pictures@fisho.com.au or post it to: Shimano Pic of the Month, Fishing World, GPO Box 606 Sydney NSW, 2001 Please include your name and age and details of your catch. Send a stamped, self addressed envelope if you want your photo back!…

FISHING guides or instructors are masters in the art of fishing and transfer of knowledge to both novice and experienced anglers alike. I’m not talking about the chunder bus trips with a dozen punters sinking tinnies all day and fishing whipper snipper like handlines, I’m talking about the more personalised experience of spending quality time with likeminded folk and a professional guide that pays attention to detail, tailoring the experience based on cues on the water and feedback from their clients. Fishing guides are experts in their domain. They know their chosen waterways intimately, have a deep understanding of fish habits and feeding patterns along with the requisite tackle knowledge to maximise success. These are all critical pieces of the fishing puzzle that take years to master for a beginner…