Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2018 i Fishing World

The New England region of New South Wales has always been one of the great strongholds of our largest freshwater fish, the iconic Murray cod. There’s possibly never been a better time to visit the high country of the granite belt region and chase these wonderful mottled green fish as fisheries management, including the implementation of a closed season and slot limit, has in conjunction with changing angler attitudes seen the species make a dramatic comeback from the dark times which weren’t really that long ago. In recent times, the increasing popularity of lure fishing for Murray cod has been largely driven by social media with images and video’s of green giants regularly gracing the Facebook and Instagram feeds of devotees. Copeton Dam near the town of Inverell has in…

I’VE spent a fair amount of time fishing the outer atolls of the Coral Sea and Vanuatu and one of the common questions I get asked is “how tough are dog toothed tuna”? The answer to that is actually difficult to define. On top of shallow 20 to 30 metre deep coral areas they are fast strong and landable. On vertical cliffs the fangs grow longer, they become incredibly angry and destructive and will destroy you most of the time. There is nothing like a dog toothed tuna when it comes to a vertical crash dive on braid. Jigs become about as durable as a pilchard! Catching a big dog tooth tuna is on many anglers bucket list. These fish are actually a bonito, and unlike true tunas they have…

I can fully appreciate why many hard-core fly fishers pay little attention to the option of chasing trout in so called ‘private’ waters. After all, fly fishing in its purest form conjures up images of tweed-clad anglers stalking wild fish in pristine, fast flowing streams with split cane rods and size 16 dry flies. Few, if any other fishing styles are shrouded in such an aura of mystery, intrigue and tradition. I have a couple of mates who regard their fly fishing in this way and, while sitting back and listening to their almost magical tales, I often find myself drawn into their rather unique world. These are guys who have travelled the planet to fish famous trout waters like the Rio Grande, the Colorado, the Tongariro and the Test,…

Even though I’ve experienced it countless times, I’m always taken aback by the crowds that converge on popular fishing spots at holiday time. I was camping on the sublime little creek system at Huskisson, near Jervis Bay, on the NSW south coast earlier this year when I was reminded once again of what happens on many waterways over the summer break. Anglers who are familiar with Currumbene Creek will know that’s it’s not a big estuary. In fact, it’s tiny. But it was standing room only during my visit, with boats or all shapes and sizes fighting for space on the water with canoes, kayaks, trailer-sailors, stand up paddle boards and a stack of other craft. Unsurprisingly, the fishing was tough, with most anglers returning the ramp each day virtually…

Formosa Marine has been building quality plate boats for over 20 years and over that time has continued to develop and refine its hulls. Striking graphics is the first thing you’ll notice and when climbing on board, the wide beams, loads of storage and a finish that is second to none. Hidden under the waterline is a ballast system that stabilises the hull when fishing and a sharp entry with increased deadrise to smooth it all out when under way. Formosa’s Sea Rod series starts at 4.5m and goes up to 7.4m. Configurations range from hard top half cabins to side console and everything in between. With so many options, Fisho hit the water with the team from Formosa, Yamaha and Gold Coast Boating Centre to put the Sea Rods…

The last few years I’ve spent quite a bit of time fishing from small craft. They’ve ranged from car-toppers to sub-4m tinnies, kayaks, canoes and most recently an inflatable stand-up paddle board. I also own an inflatable packraft that gets occasional use on waters a regular boat could never get to. The great thing about all of these different types of craft is that they offer advantages over bigger, more expensive boats. So if you’re looking at buying your first fishing boat, starting small can be a smart way to gain valuable experience until you need to upsize and broaden your options. For those on a budget too, getting into a small boat can easily be done for a minimal cost. It will also probably see water more often than…

LOWRANCE has announced the release of its new high-performance line of fishfinder/ chartplotters, HDS LIVE. Fishing World attended the HDS Live launch on Sydney Harbour for a hands on demonstration of its latest product. While Fisho will feature a full review, first impressions of the unit reveal lightning fast processing speeds and a notable improvement in definition. Fisho jumped onboard Sydney Fly Fishing guide, Justin Duggan’s Edgewater centre console for the launch. Justin’s Edgewater had the 16-inch HDS Live fitted. After a quick scout around The Spit bridge we steamed further into Middle Harbour looking a wreck. The wreck was a sunken sailing boat and very little imagination was needed to work out what we were looking at. The hull, mast, and even the cables, were clear as day. More…

SIMRAD has announced HALO24 pulse compression radar, combining the performance and reliability of the company’s award-winning radars with the advantages of innovative technology, a new profile and lightweight design. Fishing World received a hands on demonstration of the new radar on Sydney harbour recently. With prices dropping and technology advancing at a rate of knots, more and more fishos are starting to realise the benefits of fitting a radar to their trailer boat. You don’t need to mortgage your house to have the extra safety assurance onboard your boat these days. And best of all, the technology advances create a user friendly product that the average fisho can understand and operate with their eyes closed. Simrad’s HALO24 is primarialy a collison avoidance radar, although does have other features to help…

Booster Buddy boat cushion BOOSTER Buddy is a safe, comfortable and practical solution for boat owners frustrated with having to look through a windscreen covered in salt spray, reflections or intrusive instrumentation to see where they’re going. Poor visibility is dangerous and stressful when trying to navigate waterways crowded with swimmers, kayakers, boats or floating debris. Having to stand or sit on life jackets to see where youíre going results in a sore back, aching legs and a forgettable day out. The Booster Buddy cushion is made in Australia from EPE foam and UV marine grade vinyl. The EPE cushion provides excellent comfort and shock absorption in a great looking and durable booster seat. Added benefits include a convenient carry strap and side pocket. Product designer Sean Dunphy came up…

WELCOME to our 2018 Summer-long edition. The arrival of summer brings an abundance of fishing opportunities over the next few months. The holiday season is a great excuse to wind back responsibilities of work, minimise the chores at home, and hit the water for some much needed fishing time. It’s also a great time to involve the family and kids in fishing and take home a feed of fresh fish to sweeten the deal. The issue of keeping a few fish for a feed always makes for an interesting debate. Personally, I catch & release the vast majority of my fish. There are species I almost always release, like Murray cod and bass, while others, far less vulnerable and more tasty, often find their way into my frying pan. Some…

FISH FACTS: ARE EBS THE FUTURE OF BOATING? Recent events in the automotive world related to tightening emissions regulations and the emergence of new electric-only brands such as Tesla has hastened the uptake of electric vehicles (EVs) in many countries. It seems the transition to EVs is now accelerating rapidly with recent sales of Tesla’s latest all electric... By Dr Ben Diggles ENVIRONMENT: FERALS The Victorian government wants to shoot the Kosciuszko brumbies and the NSW government wants to protect them. Shooting horses is a massively emotive issue. It caused huge angst at the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service a decade or so ago when an aerial shoot at Guy Fawkes National Park left several horses wandering around wounded, not lying dead as intended. By John Newbery…

Australia’s freshwater fish have had a torrid time post-European settlement, having to cope with habitat destruction, pollution, historical over-fishing and creation of major impediments to their migration routes. Native fish in the Murray Darling Basin are estimated to be at only 10% of pre-settlement levels. The building of barriers such as dams, culverts and weirs has led to the decline and local extinction of many fish species. The University of Queensland’s Threatened Species Recovery Hub has made a breakthrough that should help native fish navigate at least one class of obstacle. Fish, particularly young fish, find it hard to swim through culverts under roads as when streams are channeled through culverts the water flow is concentrated and speeds up to the point where many fish can’t swim fast enough for…

GOOD unglasses are one of the most important elements of anyone’s tackle box. If you don’t have them, or even a decent pair, you’re putting yourself at a real disadvantage. They not only protect your eyes from the harmful sun, they also help you spot fish, bait, structure, underwater hazards and more. Different lens colours work for different types of fishing, whether it’s freshwater, estuary, flats, or offshore. Then you have cloudy days, sunny days, etc. Unfortunately one pair won’t cover all bases. That said, Mako Eyewear’s G3H9 lens in the GT frame comes pretty close to an “all-rounder”. The GT frame has been really popular for Mako; it’s a great looking frame. It’s something you can wear on or off the water. The lens is a rose/copper colour with…

There has always been a long-held suspicion that luderick anglers are, well, frugal. Jokes about single hook purchases and secret squirrel shenanigans over the collection of precious weed have always amused me, because, in part, they are true. Now, I must declare, I have had my moments collecting green slime and servicing blackfish on dribbles of weed in the estuary, and I have enjoyed it, but I am far more relaxed fishing for them at night, in total darkness and from the ocean rocks. I guess, under the cover of darkness, the risk of being identified as a blackfish fisho is eliminated and the sensory deprivation of sight adds an exciting element to the pursuit. Add to that the real risk, however controlled, of fishing from the rock at night…

In part 1 of this article last month we looked at our journey into the tactical world of competition bream fishing. It had been over a decade since I last participated in them and haven’t my eyes been opened. Everything has changed. The evolution of lures, techniques, gear and boats to go and catch a humble bread-and-butter species like bream defies explanation. It must be seen up close to be appreciated. Last month I placed special emphasis on what I thought was the biggest evolutionary area regarding techniques and lures – boats and pontoons. The finesse and subtlety used to fish this structure was a real learning curve, but with this new approach came lots of bream. This month we go from close quarters fishing to open water areas, namely…

• Daiwa Drown Cicada II 38mm, 4g 4 colours, silicone compound (requires #4 worm hook or Decoy Mushi) • Imakatsu Fujin Spider 40mm, 2.6g (includes floating weedless jighead), 24 colours • OSP Orikanemushi 34mm, 2.8g (includes floating weedless popper head), 12 colours • OSP Big Daddy Orikanemushi 41.5mm, 4.5g, (including floating weedless popper head), 12 colours • River2Sea Fish Candy Jelly Cicada, 10X plastic, 42mm, 5g, Decoy #10 treble • Tiemco Softshell Cicada: 40mm, soft PU skin foam, silicone wings, 4g, 2x #10 treble, 15 colours • Tiemco Panic Cicada: 40mm, 4g, durable elastomer, hook slits, 8 colours (requires #2 or #1 worm hook or #2 Decoy Mushi) • Tiemco Tiny Panic Cicada: 30mm, durable elastomer, 2.2g, 9 colours (requires #4 worm hook or #4 Decoy Mushi) • Tiemco Cover…

Groote Eylandt is the fourth largest island in Australia, sitting along the western edge of the Gulf of Carpentaria opposite Blue Mud Bay. The “Eylandt” was named by explorer Abel Tasman in 1644 and apparently means “large island” in Dutch. And it certainly is a large island, stretching about 50-60km up, down, and across. The island is part of the East Arnhem region and belongs to the traditional owners, the Warnindilyakwa aboriginal people. Groote is also home to GEMCO, a lucrative mining company, one of the largest suppliers of manganese ore around the world. Having such a large mine on the island means visiting fishos have access to multiple daily flights, luxury accommodation, not to mention great food and services. I’ve been to plenty of great fishing spots, but not…

For thousands of years, many humans have fished for one simple reason – to feed themselves. In the past three decades our oceans have seen an enormous increase in fishing pressure from international purse seiners and long liners. We have also seen fish and prawn farms established to feed the world’s population and their never-ending requirement to eat seafood. At the same time recreational anglers have had bag limits enforced on them and catch and release is becoming much more prevalent. Despite this many recreational anglers still fish for a feed. I’m not adverse to catching a feed of fresh fish and while I release a lot our catch these days I do keep the odd snapper, flathead, longtail and mackerel to take home. In 40 years of catching and…

There’s a bit of interesting history behind the Grady White name. It was the first of the US boat brands to really break away from the classic family ski runabout and specialise in fishing boats. Grady White did that way back in the early 1980s and hasn’t looked back since. Today the North Carolina company is regarded as one of the greatest fibreglass fishing ranges worldwide. Grady White’s current range is also very extensive and covers a large number of centre console models, dual console and the classic walk-around cabin design which we’ve seen a few of in Australia over a number of years. Just before the Sydney Boat Show I got the chance to hop aboard one of the latest models in the centre console range - the Fisherman…

GARMIN International Inc. recently announced Panoptix LiveScope, a live scanning sonar that gives fishermen high resolution and easy-to-interpret images of structure, bait and fish swimming below and around the boat. According to the manufacturer, Garmin’s Panoptix sonar technology was the first to deliver live sonar images in real-time – forwards, backwards, sideways and below the boat – even while stationary. Now, thanks to the active scanning capabilities of Panoptix LiveScope, anglers can see images and movement so clear and precise that it’s even possible to distinguish between species of fish. “We took scanning sonar and made it Panoptix,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of global consumer sales. “By combining two game-changing innovations – scanning sonar and live sonar – Panoptix LiveScope delivers the best of both technologies and there’s…

Using topwater lures is one of the most visually exciting forms of fishing on the planet. Whether it’s a cod in an impoundment or a kingfish in the salt, seeing the surface erupt to foam is as good as it gets - in my book anyway. I’ll admit to being a bit slow in the uptake of surface lures in my local area, but over the past couple of seasons we’ve been getting into our southern pelagics on stickbaits with awesome results. It started as necessity one day, we were on the water chasing some school bluefin and the fish were frustratingly fickle. There were plenty of small patches of fish rising and feeding, but they were skittish and would sound deep when we ran a spread of divers or…

Nautilus Aviation, operator of Helifish, has confirmed its annual $10,000 prize promotion in support of the Million Dollar Fish season. Elli Vukasovic, Nautilus Aviation’s director of Tourism and Business Development, said: “We are again offering a BONUS $10,000 to any angler on board our HeliFish tour who catches a $10,000 Barra. Different to last year, is the increased chances to hook a tagged Barra!” In addition to the extra tagged fish being released, with new fishing permits northeast of Darwin, HeliFish now offers additional tours to locations including Cape Hotham and the Mary River region. This is the third year Nautilus Aviation has supported the MDF Season. “While the promotion is a natural fit in the Top End complementing our world class fishing, our bonus $10,000 helps to build and…

The debate around the limiting of commercial fishing in Victoria continues unabated. In 2014, the State’s political parties committed to banning commercial net fishing in Port Phillip Bay, to the delight of anglers and despair of commercial fishers. Now VRFish is pushing for a compulsory buy-out of all 10 remaining commercial licences from the Gippsland Lakes. Since 1995, that number has reduced from 21 licences, mainly as a result of voluntary licence buy-outs. The Lakes are an iconic black bream fishery, with the pros taking some 42 tonnes of bream in 2016/17, out of a total commercial catch of 316 tonnes of fish. From the 1960s to the 80s the Gippsland bream catch averaged about 250 tonnes per year. The recreational bream catch is estimated to be considerably higher than…

The warmer months of spring and summer sees most fish bounce back to life after the winter doldrums. As the temperature rises from wintertime lows, many species will experience a corresponding rise in activity and will more aggressively hunt down a meal. The warm weather also triggers increased activity in bugs and insects which are a primary food source for many freshwater fish while in the salt. Similarly, baitfish will follow the nutrient rich warm waters inshore while prawns start migrating from the estuaries to open waters. All of this activity sees top water fishing come to the fore and there is nothing more exhilarating than the sight and sound of a determined fish chasing down and devouring a surface lure. There’s more to top water fishing than flicking out…

NEBO may not be a widely recognised brand here in Australia, but that’s sure to change! Nebo sells over 6 million units per year of its innovative L.E.D lighting products; everything from torches, lanterns, headlamps, pocket lights, even keyring lights punching over 200 lumens. Sheldon and Hammond Pty. Ltd has recently taken on the brand for distribution in Australia. As luck would have it a good friend happens to be the brand manager and sent me a little present in the mail to test for a few months. At first glance and feel, the Rebel was surprisingly compact and very light at 85 grams. The body of the actual light and battery felt very strong, being made from aircraft aluminium finished in an anodised black, which has proven well against…

If you were given a dollar from every fisho who has been driven mad chasing jewfish you'd be a rather wealthy man. These silver sided slabs of power are a genuine trophy and always carry much envy to those who dream of holding one up for the camera. A frightening amount of time, large amounts of travel, and many dollars spent along the way are all things we are willing to throw at the species and from the day you first see that mesmerising silver glow, the more your obsession will develop. Jewfish require many things to come together but most importantly the big keys to success are constant persistence and serious effort. Jewfish do not come easy and while there will always be the stories of certain anglers getting…

Modern technology has undoubtedly offered the angling scene its fair share of innovations capable of improving success rates for certain target species. And whilst it’s fantastic to have this type of information and equipment available at our fingertips sometimes these advancements can pose more of a headache than a blessing, particularly for the more novice fisho looking to broaden his or her horizons. Here I speak in reference to some of the more old-school bait species such as snapper, or big reds as they’re commonly known. Rewind the clock a few years and the only plausible method of chasing these fish was by pumping a berley trail at anchor and soaking a few baits below. In hindsight this was a fairly limited technique with little wriggle room in the way…

Over the past few years I’ve become a big admirer of the estuary perch, or EP as it’s commonly known. There are lots of reasons why I’m a fan of this close relation to the Aussie bass. For starters, EPs are aggressive opportunistic feeders that take a variety of lures and flies fished deep to surface. The EP is a handsome fish with a similar body shape to bass and colouration that can vary from a common copper bronze sheen to a silvery green, depending on where and when in river systems they’re found. EPs like to hang near natural structure such as timber snags and alternately, manmade concrete and metal versions like bridges and jetties. They are exciting implosion feeders with bucket-like mouths that suck in a range of…

If you like lure fishing you will eventually hook a snag. Some anglers give in and snap off. Others flick and jerk to free the lure with limited success. It can be expensive and annoying to lose a few lures particularly proven favourites. There are solutions to getting snagged. The first is to develop a positive mindset that no lure is lost until you try everything to get it back. Some methods involve rod and line work while others require a tool. While you will never get back every lure, recovering most is good for your wallet, the environment and your morale. This article examines the art of lure recovery. SOFT HANDS The first anti snag concept is to use “soft hands”. People who crank without thought and rip the…

LONG-TIME friend of Fishing World, Ben Sandman, changes boats almost as often as he used to change girlfriends. (That said, his catch-and-release partying days are campfire stories now he has with a wife and three kids!) A familiar face in the industry for the best part of 20 years, Sandman worked through most of Australia’s fishing/boating media from staff journalist to managing editor, prior to establishing and running a specialist marine PR/marketing company for over a decade. Needless to say, he’s driven, fished from and written about more boats than many people are ever likely to set foot in. With his level of insight into what makes a great fishing boat – and the experience and connections that have allowed him to pick and choose who he’s worked with over…

RAM’S 1500 Laramie is the shorter, lower and lighter version of its well-known heavy duty Laramie 2500. While the big 2500 is rated to tow 6.9T and features an enormous tub and cabin, the new 1500 features a maximum 4.5T tow capacity and slightly shorter tub (5’7”). It still features the same spacious cabin and most of the features which made the 2500 such an iconic and luxurious tow vehicle. Ram Trucks is making no secret of its intention to target the lucrative dual cab market. Its tag line “Eats utes for breakfast” is pretty accurate when you consider the long list of features, impressive performance and its class leading tow capacity. At this stage Ram is releasing the 1500 with a 5.7L V8 Hemi, with a diesel version expected…