Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2021 i Fishing World

THE ABC has reported La Nina and cooler weather conditions have hampered southern bluefin tuna fishing efforts out of Port Lincoln, with COVID and trade disruptions having already put pressure on the industry and the 1,000 families involved in it. More than 40 fishing - related vessels and six spotter planes are involved in hunting schools of tuna off the tourist town of Robe with the aim of capturing and towing 10,000 SBTs at a time back to Port Lincoln to be grown out for harvest in June, July and August and export to China and Japan, providing those markets are still available. Prices have already slumped worldwide. The target fish size for capture is around 15kg, with fish doubling their weight in the tuna “ranches” prior to harvest. The…

A SIGNIFICANT event for an iconic endangered native fish species recently occurred when over 7,000 juvenile Macquarie perch bred at Narrandera Fisheries Centre from captured wild stock were released into Wimburndale Dam. Macquarie perch have been locally excinct for 70 years from the river catchment. Modified habitat, barriers to fish passage, changes to natural stream-flows and cold water discharge from water storage dams which impact natural spawning events had contributed to the decline of native species however the introduction of redfin perch & their rapid spread throughout inland streams has resulted in rapid decline of many native fish species including isolated remaining populations of Macquarie perch. The introduced redfin perch is a voracious predatory invasive pest species that are known to consume small native species and the young of larger…

It’s hard to believe snapper were once considered a bait only proposition. You only need to walk through the local tackle shop or flick through a few fishing mags to appreciate the enormity of the shift to artificials that has occurred over the past decade or so. The reasons are completely understandable as there’s a significant enticement and challenge associated with fooling snapper on artificial offerings. Bait is even considered “cheating” by some. The downside however is that lures rely heavily on good numbers of fish to be around in order to work effectively. For this reason they are slowly losing their appeal in various locations with snapper numbers generally on the decline. The South Australian scene once heralded as a snapper mecca is a prime example of this and…

ADDING an extra hook or rig to your line can dramatically increase your hook up rates and chances of success. In deep water, multi hook rigs when bait fishing not only increases your chances of catching multiple fish simultaneously but also provide an insurance policy giving a second or third chance if pickers gnaw away at one or two of the baits. Stinger hooks are another addition that can yield dividends when using long lures or dealing with timid fish that short strike and sheepishly pick at the tail end of your lure. Adding extra hooks strategically to any bait or lure rig increases your hook coverage and greater hook coverage generally means more fish being hooked! MULTI HOOK SNELL AND GANGED HOOKS Once baits become significantly larger than the…

Sydney is a big city with a big population of keen fishos. Each week, thousands of these fishos hit the water in search of a diverse range of species and angling opportunities. They do so with many types of tackle, techniques and skill levels. It's this fishing diversity that makes Sydney such an appealing place to live for fishos. Over the next few pages we'll explore the opportunities within 100km from the centre of Sydney. Following that, over the next few months, we'll hand the reigns over to some of the country's best fishing writers who will divulge their secrets for fishing around their own capital city. If you’re anything like me, and many fishos around Sydney, you’re an “all rounder” and appreciate this diversity, with an interest in most…

“Mates and I have put in the hard yards and have quite a few spots that we’ve never had to share, and I know we are not alone.” AFTER a wait of more than six months, my new Formosa 495 side console is almost finished. The plates have been cut and welded together, the paint applied and the internals fitted out. Next week she’s off to Dunbier to be paired to her new dual axle, alloy trailer and then down into NSW she comes. I reckon I’ve coped with being boatless pretty damn well, with only the last month dragging on endlessly. Summer is arguably, at least for those of us that fish offshore, the best time to be without a boat. The snapper slow and the mackerel are yet…

I grew up fishing the lakes and estuaries of the NSW Mid-North Coast. There were amazing times as a kid with family and friends catching bream, whiting and flathead as well as the odd jewfish in lakes and estuaries. While many lake and estuary anglers are content with this style of easily accessible fishing, many want more. Some dream of the huge tuna and billfish found in distant waters. Unfortunately, this is something some recreational fishos will never experience due to the size of their boat or the price of a charter or fuel bill. There is a solution… Longtail tuna are exciting to catch and accessible to almost anyone if you live north of Sydney on the East Coast. Unlike their yellowfin cousins, they’re not found out wide. They…

THE OECD 2020 review of the state of the world’s fisheries has reported that about a quarter of the global fish stocks with known status are in a biologically unsustainable situation. Of the two thirds that are healthy, only half appear to be producing maximum sustainable catch volume or value. The review contends that both global fisheries and aquaculture could be both more productive and more sustainable if they were optimally managed. For about 70 years responsible fisheries scientists and managers have considered that the maximum sustainable yield or catch for an individual species is around 50%, so that the unharvested biomass never drops below that figure. In some countries this target drops to 30-40%, which can be considered as overfishing. More enlightened scientists suggests that 60% would be a…

ATC VIRTUOUS CARBON FIBRE ATC says the Virtuous CF combines the best of its rigid and light weight spinning reels. Featuring a dual drag system that applies pressure from the bottom and the top of the spool to provide a powerful and smooth drag performance, the Virtuous CF is ready to take on record fish. Constructed with a full carbon fibre body and rotor, these lightweight reels are equipped with an aluminium spool fitted with a tournament grade carbon washer drag system. The handle has also been designed to provide great ergonomics while still keeping the weight to a minimum with a mini EVA handle for ultimate sensitivity. The 10 + 1 ball bearings add an overall smooth touch to the reel that has to be felt to be believed.…

Angler-science isn’t new. Growing evidence suggests voluntary data collection by recreational fishers is contributing to increased engagement with other fishers, better fishing outcomes, policy development, fisheries management and could even be the key to opening the door to co-management. Because despite the true value of citizen science gaining traction in anglers’ awareness, thanks to the good news stories and positive messaging flooding in, it’s still regarded with a level of suspicion. Typically, asking a fisho to share details about their catch – let alone the exact location – goes against every rule in the book, a sure way of making sure no one ever finds out about it. But according our nation’s peak body for recreational fishing, the Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation (ARFF) we are in a period of digital…

The great thing about fishing is that you never stop learning. Whether it’s successful or not, every outing on the water teaches you something new. Some lessons are harsh, some are pleasant surprises, but every single one forms part of the journey to becoming a more knowledgeable and skilful angler. I’ve been fishing for more than 40 years and I’m definitely still learning. In fact, I think I’m only just beginning to scratch the surface. Even in a setting where I feel most comfortable and confident, on a saltwater creek, inlet or lake, I’m picking up things – big and small – on every trip. A few months of long service leave in late 2020 gave me the opportunity to fish much more than usual. I spent most of my…

LAST year Squidgies re-introduced its classic “Fish” soft plastic paddle tail in the 150mm size. It’s designed for “switched-on” anglers using big lures and presentations to target Australia’s iconic sportfish – like trophy-size flathead and Murray cod – which is proving very effective. Not surprisingly, it’s also just as deadly on jewies and barra, too! For those that used the original version years ago, you’ll notice it is now made out of a more durable plastic. There’s also a little more “bulk” in the head and the tail angle is more vertical – changes designed to give the lure more body roll Recently, this lure has proven deadly for XL flathead in the shallows. A simple “slow roll” will activate this lure’s thumping paddle tail and seductive body roll. I…

MANY fish species have changed greatly in their distribution in the time I have been fishing. When I was a teenager growing up in Sydney big yellowfin tuna used to be caught regularly close to shore, and places such as the Ovens near Whale Beach regularly produced yellowfin off the rocks. I was a member of the Kur-ring-gai Angling and casting club and at the weekend weigh-ins saw some amazing yellowfin coming from both small boats and off the rocks. I remember Clive Schultz catching a 63kg yellowfin on a trolled 6 inch yellow squid only a mile or two off Palm Beach on an old Penn Senator. Places such as the Peak, located only 10 kilometres off Maroubra producing large numbers of yellowfin on both live baits and by…

A MAN WITH A PLAN One name that is guaranteed to get a mention among the decision makers within our sport is Adam Martin. The newly appointed executive officer for ARFF is well-known for his visionary and strategic approach to fisheries management, but scratch the surface and you’ll find Aussie rec’ fishos’ secret weapon – a fishing geek! Accomplished at deciphering complex data, lover of statistics and defender of fishers intellectual property (aka IP), he is now developing ways to “Attract, Engage and Recruit” fishers to acknowledge themselves as active rec’ fishing citizen scientists; while capturing the imagination and recognition of fishers efforts to the wider community. “What may come as a surprise to our millions of fishers, is that they are already engaging in citizen science because with every…

O’BRIEN Boat Works is located in Townsville QLD, and has earned an enviable reputation for producing world class gamefishing boats since 1981. Its boats have enormous respect amongst Cairns black marlin skippers including Captain Luke Fallon who runs the 56 foot O’Brien “Kekoa”. Luke fishes the annual Cairns heavy tackle season but Kekoa spends most of its time moored in Urangan Harbour at Hervey Bay where it does marlin charters around and wide of Fraser Island. I volunteered with Luke’s mother in law, Anne Dalling, when I was at Marine Rescue Hervey Bay. Anne’s husband is legendary gamefishing skipper, Jim Dalling who also ran an O’Brien boat out of Townsville for many years. Luke’s wife is Kelly Dalling-Fallon who runs the Black Marlin Blog promoting marlin fishing in Australia and…