Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2018 i Fishing World

IF snagging a feisty rainbow trout isn’t exciting enough, keen rec anglers can now add further enjoyment to their fishing experience by receiving a reward for catching a tagged fish. The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has released 900 tagged yearling rainbow trout into Khancoban Pondage this month in the Snowy Mountains and will release a further 1000 tagged yearling rainbow trout into Oberon Dam in May. DPI senior fisheries manager Cameron Westaway said anglers who get their hands on a tagged fish should report their capture to DPI and will receive a trout lure in return. Fisheries experts at DPI believe the larger trout will do better in the presence of redfin, which have had negative effect on both Khancoban and Oberon since they were illegally introduced.…

PNG-based Baia Sportfishing has announced its latest addition to the fleet, the ultimate Sportfishing and live aboard vessel, named Ultimate One. Ultimate One is a 70 foot luxury vessel that has long range capabilities and is equipped with all the electronics needed for offshore expeditions. U1 has a cruising speed of 25 knots and is also geared up with a game chair and outriggers for those who wish to target big blue marlin and sailfish. If you want to catch a Niugini black bass and blue marlin on the same trip then Ultimate One is geared and ready to offer you the challenge! Baia has already discovered new river systems loaded with black and spotail bass and new offshore reef systems abundant with giant dogTooth tuna, GTs, wahoo, yellowfin tuna,…

I DOUBT you could class squid as an actual sportfish, but there’s no denying their popularity amongst sportfishos. They really are a sportfish staple for several reasons and one of my favourite species to target. My first introduction to squid was in Port Hacking back in the late ‘70s when we fished the Marley Wreck for kingfish. The early morning starts would begin with catching live yakkas and during those bait catching sessions we’d either have the odd hooked yakka grabbed by a squid or have several swimming around the boat. Back then calamari wasn’t all that popular and I don’t think anyone had realised how good squid were as kingfish baits either. We probably wasted some great opportunities back in those days by not fishing live squid, although we…

Thailand is surrounded by warm and nutrient rich water and, like most countries largely surrounded by water, there are plenty of fishing charter options available up and down the coastlines to cater for pelagic/game fishing. While these options will certainly put you onto some good fish, they can be quite expensive and many of the target species can be caught in many other locations around the world (including Australia and New Zealand). For me, destination fishing is all about targeting new and exotic species that aren’t found at home. If you have ever wanted to tangle with a fish you have never heard of? Then I suggest you head to Thailand! WHY THAILAND? With legislative laws a little more laid back in Thailand, many of these catch and release fishing…

THE COST of a fishing trip can quickly add up. Fuel, drinks, ice, food and bait all help nudge up the cost of a day’s fishing. If you’re on a budget and want to save some money, there are a number of ways to source cheap bait that will help keep your wallet in check and might even help you to catch more fish! GETTING IT YOURSELF One of the cheapest ways to obtain some fresh bait is to go out there and gather it for yourself. If you factor a few hours extra into a fishing trip you’ll be able to dedicate the start of your trip to collecting enough bait for your session. Not only will the bait be cheaply sourced, it’ll be alive or freshly caught and…

Stacer has unveiled its 2018 line-up of alloy fishing boats with a brand new hull design, new models and a long list of changes to the company’s range. The new Revolution Hull is the latest addition to the company’s range, which Stacer says is an evolution of the well-known Barra and Assault Pro hulls. The Revolution Hull features a concave bottom design, EVO advance pressing and a raised chine. This equals a smoother ride with improved stability under way and at rest. Stacer’s Revolution Hull is available across the company’s new line-up including the Seamaster, Crossfire, Wildrider and Assault Pro. The Queensland-base tinny manufacturer has also simplified models across its line up to minimise confusion for customers and make choosing a tinny easier than ever. The new Crossfire is a…

I’ve been running Simrad electronics on my boat for around seven years now; starting with an NSE8 and upgrading to an NSS Evo3 around 12 months ago. The speed of development in the field of electronics is amazing. When I upgraded my Simrad I knew I’d see improvements, but the new unit has certainly surpassed my expectations. Switching from the NSE8 to the NSS Evo3 has seen a move away from the rotary knob and button pad to touch screen technology. Most of us are exposed to touch screen devices on a daily basis, so adjusting to a touch screen integrated navigation unit was simple, which followed the basic principals of other touch screen devices. The basic Simrad operation and layout is not too dissimilar with previous Simrad models, so…

“A bait or lure that spins unnaturally through the water is less likely to elicit a strike from a wily old snapper than one that naturally falls.” Many of the waterways in our major capital cities are burdened by weekend crowds of pleasure craft sail boats, divers and anglers hitting the water. Chasing snapper in these hard fished waters poses a challenge for the most experienced of anglers let alone a novice or casual angler hoping to tangle with a few tasty reds. Growing up in Sydney has seen the bulk of my snapper fishing burdened by a flotilla of weekend warriors hell bent on zooming past a productive drift or anchoring in an established burley trail. Whilst challenging at times, there is some exceptional snapper fishing to be had…

Researchers at the University of Western Australia have completed a study which quantifies shark bite-off rates for rec-caught fish in the Ningaloo region. They report that on average nearly 40 per cent of the 400 or so anglers interviewed had had a shark bite-off on their most recent fishing trip, with around 12 per cent of hooked fish taken by sharks. It’s suggested that sharks may be learning to associate fishing activities with food, and aggregate in popular areas, particularly if there are several boats fishing close to each other. This would seem to confirm most anglers’ anecdotal experience. The research correlates area and depth data associated with bite-offs which should give anglers the option of avoiding these areas. Researchers also suggest that moving as soon as a fish is…

“I have some favourites dams but on any given season one might be fishing better than the other and that’s usually were I dedicate my efforts, after I work out which one.” Everyone wants a “hotspot” or “spot x” in fishing, regardless of species! In freshwater it seems that magical big Murray cod spot is top the list, and you may be surprised to hear there could be one near you! Impoundment levels and water flows can largely determine the quality of fishing at any time of year. In general, rising and steady levels fish better than dropping, or very low level impoundments. However it only takes one decent downpour or a Snowy Hydro water release and it can change literally overnight. Stocking is another major factor. Volume and regularity…

SWIMMING weedless-rigged soft plastics would comfortably rate as one of my most successful and preferred forms of luring. From our rivers, dams, tight water creeks, and even the big blue water playground, soft plastics rigged in this fashion bring about a mixture of serious stealth and an ability to go where other lures simply cannot. realistic swimming action, keeping the head slightly down and tail beating strongly. With an understanding about hooks, weights, sizes and patterns the job at hand now is to actually “rig” your chosen soft plastic. This is a simple procedure but does need some explanation for those who may be unfamiliar with this deadly method. It begins by simply inserting your hook point into the head of your soft plastic and back out through the “chin”…

THE ability to successfully target a range of species is the mark of an accomplished angler. Apart from being more interesting, the ability to target different fish requires skill with different types of gear, familiarity with differing environments and a broad understanding of a range of species and techniques. Therefore, I’d suggest that there’s value in being able to "go with the flow", adapting to the seasons and the conditions at any given time. No matter where you are fishing, there are some prime recreational species available, but they will be more readily caught during certain times of the year or in certain conditions. Take a recent mackerel trip as an example. After two fruitless hours trolling a whole bonito in search of big Spaniards, I changed tack by catching…

It’s rare to find positive stories around homegrown manufacturing, especially in developed countries like Australia and the USA. The good news is, at least in the US, favourable trading conditions has meant manufacturing is making a comeback and switched-on companies like Mercury Marine are riding a wave of positive growth. The US-based outboard giant is investing heavily in manufacturing with a promise of new technology on the way. Following this year’s Miami Boat Show in Florida, Mercury Marine invited a group of Australian media, myself included, to attend its factory in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The company had just launched its range of 175-225 V6 four-strokes at the vibrant boat show in Florida. The plan then was to show us Aussies how these outboards were made and the history behind…

DUSKY flathead aren’t known as being big travellers, however one fish tagged as part of NSW DPI’s Trophy Flathead program has been recorded as taking a pretty big swim from its home waters. Angler Duncan Crockett, fishing with Dan Guilfoyle, a member of the Lake Macquarie Trophy Flathead Tagging Team, caught and tagged the dusky at Fishery Point on November 14, 2017. The fish was measured at 85cm and was caught on a lure. It was released in good condition with Duncan and Dan remarking on the tag card that the fish “seemed to be heavily pregnant”. Just over four and a half months later (132 days to be exact), the fish was recaptured by Allan Roddom at Stockton Beach, about 41km north of the original capture site. As you…

Mustad last year released its range of quality tackle and dry bags. The iconic Norwegian hook company has expanded its offering with a range of quality tackle accessories which includes this line up of waterproof backpacks, travel and roll top dry bags. There’s also a multi-purpose tackle bag suitable for carrying everything you need for a day on the water. The bags are built using waterproof PVC, and all zippers and clips have been, according to Mustad, tested in the field for durability and long life. I’m a big fan of dry bags. Fishing is a water sport and if you do it often enough, you and your gear will get wet. I’m okay with getting wet, but some of my gear isn’t. Camera gear, fishing gear, and on multi…

Gummy sharks are an interesting creature. I don’t know of any other species of shark or bony fish that can adapt to such diverse environments than what gummies do. They’re comfortable in water as shallow as just a metre or two, right out to a depth of 400m and everything in between. It’s not just the variation of depth that makes them interesting, but also the differing environments in which they’re found, which ranges from high energy surf beaches, to sheltered bays and offshore shoals. Considering the varied habitats, you’d assume gummies would be easy to find but that’s not always the case. If anything, their varied distribution can make them harder to locate in numbers. In the southern half of the country where gummy sharks are found, they are…

“Try your smelly thing,” said Dave Longin, referring to the Gulp Minnow Grub dangling from the idle spin rod. It wasn’t such a strange ask from a committed fly fisher. The fishing had gone notably quiet after I’d stopped for a coffee and Dave wanted to gauge if there were any fish at our position. For some reason, the lake’s dusky flathead were crazily responsive to the 3-inch Gulp – a versatile softie I was introduced to years ago by Fisho’s Sami Omari and still rely on for flatties, bream, trevally and the odd whiting - and it was providing a reliable litmus test this trip on where fish were. At the same time, Dave’s creative homegrown flies had only had moderate interest – at least compared to the success…

There’s been a lot written about boats that can cover more than one role. This might mean a boat that can provide a stable platform for serious fishing as well as accommodate the wife and kids on family fun boating days - the ideal “cross-over” boat. Obviously, there have to be compromises to achieve this versatility; whether it be more, or less, creature comforts, or fewer fishing-friendly features. For Trevor Robinson, the owner of the boat featured here, the main priority was fishing although he had other plans for it as well. “I wanted a boat that I could operate on the bass dams as well as give me the ability to run out into the bays and into the estuaries. So It’s a bit of a crossover boat,” he…