December, 2014

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Fishing Monthly G R O U P

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Features Joys of island hopping Advanced trolling for snapper Floatlining the big ones Christmas canal critters

132-PAGE BUMPER CHRISTMAS EDITION

How-To The Yucatan Knot When to replace your trailer lights Sounders: save your spots

Tried and Tested

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6 DECEMBER 2014

Jessy Higgs landed this brown maori cod on a Black Magic KL 7/0 hook and Black Magic 80lb Tough Trace off Hervey Bay.

Black Magic 40lb Tough Trace was used by Pete Cherrett to catch this 28kg cobia while fishing at Hervey Bay.

Aaron Lewis landed this 69cm nannygai off Yeppoon

using Black Magic 40lb Tough Fluorocarbon leader.

This 5kg coronation trout was landed by Kent Walker on Black Magic 80lb Tough Trace and a Black

Magic KL 7/0 hook while fishing off Hervey Bay.

Black Magic 20lb Tough Fluorocarbon leader was used by Ben Pamenter to catch this impressive 23kg murray cod at Cooby Dam.

Cherrett to catch this 28kg cobia while fishing at

using Tough Fluorocarbon leader

using Tough Fluorocarbon leader fishing off Hervey Bay.fishing off Hervey Bay.

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Contents

$5.95 RRP (GST inc.)

10 DECEMBER 2014

From the Editors Desk...

December 2014, Vol. 29 No. 2

PROTECT

ING

FISHINGS FUTU

RE

AUSTRALIAN FISHING TRAD

E ASS

OCIATIO

N

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All material is copyright, and cannot be reproduced in part or in full, by any means, without written permission of the Managing Editor. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher.

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OK someone tell me where that year went? Someone told me that lifes like a roll of toilet paper the closer to the end you get the quicker it goes. Seems reasonable. So, by the time this issue has hit the shelves, well be trying to sneak in a trip or two amongst the pre-Christmas shopping and madness that ensues. By the look of the reports inside, its all about fingermark up north and billfish down south. In the South East, if you havent caught a marlin before and want to give it a go, theres no time like this month to chance your arm.

PLENTY OF COMPETITIONS

Weve heard the call. You love competitions. Not just fishing tournaments, but competitions where you can enter to win some cool

gear. Theres a few inside this month. The ridiculously popular Find-The competition kicks off again this month this time partnering with VMC to challenge you with (and your eyesight). Of course, theres the Subscriber prizes that are drawn every month. Every current subscriber is in the draw. And JRoc Tackle have their giveaway outlined inside. Add this to the find-a-word competition and theres plenty to keep you occupied over the Christmas break.

WHITSUNDAYS ARE BACK

Welcome to our new contributor from the Whitsundays Luke Griffith. Luke runs Renegade Charters in the area and the guys are constantly in touch with whats biting. Welcome to the team, Luke, as we know that well all

be jealous reading about the fantastic fishing in that part of the world.SUBSCRIPTION GIFTS

We are usually inundated with orders for magazine subscriptions for Christmas presents, but remember that well need these orders in by about the 12 December to ensure that the gift certificates can make it to you before the big event. Alternatively, visit iSubscribe to get any last minute transactions done they offer a print-out certificate that you can get sorted just minutes before your gift-buying deadline.

BE ON THE COVER With the incredible popularity of the FM Cover Comp earlier in the year, were kicking it off again for 2015. See the details inside, but get snapping and make sure that theyre great quality pics in the proper

orientation. We know that the block-mounted covers we gave to the winners last year are now firmly established on mantelpieces and in pool rooms all up and down the east coast. Enter. It could be you in 2015!

COVER VIDEO Speaking of covers, theres a bit of video showing the capture and release of the blubberlips on this issue click on the QR code hereby if you want to watch or to find out exactly where they caught this fish. Until next month, tight lines!

OUR COVER

Justin Welsh caught this blubber-lip in the Port of Brisbane.

A Greg Livingstone image.

TO SUBSCRIBE SEE PAGE 81 FIND THE VMC LOGO COMP 110Queensland Fishing Monthly magazine

goes on sale the first week of each month (latest sale date 7th of the month).

NORTHERN NEW SOUTH WALES

Iluka 24 Ballina 26

SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND

Tweed Heads 28 Southern Gold Coast 31 Gold Coast Canals 33 Gold Coast 34 Jumpinpin 37 Brisbane Offshore 39 Brisbane 40 Northern Bay 42 Southern Pumicestone 44 Caloundra 47 Noosa 48

CENTRAL QUEENSLAND

Rainbow Beach 50 Hervey Bay 50 Fraser Coast 53 Bundaberg 55 Lake Monduran 56 Gladstone 58 Rockhampton 60 Yeppoon 62 Mackay 64

TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND

Whitsundays 68 Ayr 72 Bowen 70 Townsville 74 Lucinda 76 Hinchinbrook 76 Cairns 79 Port Douglas 80 The Cape 82 Cooktown 84 Karumba 85

REGULAR FEATURES

Boating 120 Back to Basics 20 Camping and 4WD 100 Cooking 128 Dam Levels 86 Flyfishing 90 Freshwater 86 Fun Page 117 Kayak 114 Sheik 111 Sunfish 119 Suntag 109 Tournament News 92 Tech Tricks 91 Whats New in Boating 124 Whats New in Fishing 102

SPECIAL FEATURES

Joys of island hopping 12 Advanced trolling for snapper 16 Floatlining the big ones 18 The Yucatan Knot 23 Christmas canal critters 108 When to replace your trailer lights 116 Sounders: save your spots 118

11DECEMBER 2014

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Many anglers find themselves in a position where they feel they are missing out on a huge chunk of what great fishing this

Joys of island hoppingyou catch them to an extent. However, clued-in fishers will know that just because you dont have a boat, doesnt mean you cant tangle with some of the bigger bay and ocean going fish this part of the world has on offer. In fact, given the right conditions and a little bit

on foot. This island hopping is cheap, easy and it can yield some surprising results. The methods outlined in this article can also be applied to other parts of our coast.

PREPARATION Successful island hopping doesnt come without good

Packing a variety of gear and trying to be versatile can pay off, but knowing your target species and the terrain youll be fishing allows you to pack smart - well get to that later. Some islands are big enough so that they offer bus services while others do not and you have to walk to your next fishing spot. If you intend to walk a fair distance, its wise not to over pack, or youll be lugging around unnecessary weight all day. Some islands have car barge services, and

this again gives the angler the luxury of mobility, but these services are often expensive and an angler without a boat is usually in that position because they dont have a lot of money to throw around. Some services even offer public transport to and from the barge terminal, so you may not even need a car at all! Information regarding timetables and barge or ferry services of your chosen island can all be found on the Internet.

ISLAND INTELLIGENCE Before you plan to fish your chosen island, its smart to do a bit of research about the island, particularly stuff that relates to the fishing. By looking at maps of the island, you can determine likely fish-holding spots, find access points, plan a route around the island and also get a general idea for the sorts of terrain youll be tackling. Make sure youre up to date with the ever-changing green and no-go zones littered throughout the bay a fine from Fisheries will make for a real downer. The best place to start your search for info is online. If youre lucky, someone may have fished your island recently and blabbed about it its amazing what youll find on forums. Asking staff at a local tackle store can also see you pointed in the right direction, and obviously anyone who has fished the island is a valuable source of knowledge. Whatever you opt for, make sure you do some sort of research. It can be the

state has to offer because they dont own a boat. It can be very frustrating to come home from a land-based assault empty-handed while others around have bagged out after a big trip into the bay. Not having a vessel can limit your target species and how often

of know how, the land-based anglers can sometimes leave boaties scratching their heads! A great way to get at some fantastic fish without a boat is by taking one of the many public barges and ferries into the islands of South East Queensland and fishing them

preparation, and theres a few key things to remember when taking the barge or ferry with your fishing gear in tow. Your gear needs to be packed so that its suitable for travel on a barge, so this gives multi-piece rods and backpacks an advantage.

Young Jack had a great time sight casting to these suckers around the rocky shallows of North Straddie. Tiger squid are prevalent throughout the bay islands and are great fun for the kids, they also make a mean live bait.

The squid fishing throughout Moreton Bay can be fantastic at certain times of the year and fishing land-based seldom puts you at a disadvantage.

BARGE AND FERRY INFO

Destination: Leaves from:Moreton Island 14 Howard Smith Dr, Port of BrisbaneNorth Stradbroke Island 3 Emmett Dr, ClevelandCoochiemudlo Island 2 Masters Ave, Victoria PointMaclaey, Russel, Lamb and Karragarra islands 1 Weinam St, Redland Bay

Julian Honman got lucky with this 20kg+ longtail off the beach when the northwesterlies were blowing. Landing this missile required

some swimming from the photographer due its size.

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difference between nutting out a very unsung, under-exploited fishery or going in blind and coming home empty-handed. It also allows you to organise your gear adequately and pack smart, making travel not only easier for you, but for the people who have to stow your gear in transit. Of course, all this theory will only get you so far. The only real way to find out what to expect is to get out and go fishing!ISLANDS OF INTEREST

Barge and ferry services are run from the mainland out to Macleay, Karragarra, Russel, Lamb, Coochiemudlo,

snapper, flathead and squid on the bay side, the next you could be collecting pipis for trophy dart off the beach and spotting barrel-class kingfish from the rocks. Sometimes, fish considered only catchable by boat like mac and longtail tuna, various mackerel species, larger trevally and kingfish come within easy reach of a land-based angler! Be on the lookout. The larger islands have many places to stay and camping options are also available if you want to save money. These larger islands offer the most of all the bay islands, but dont be fooled;

there is usually something you can settle on and fish for. As mentioned, the squid fishery around these small islands can be fantastic in the cooler months, and any island hopper should carry a selection of their favourite jigs. Even though the islands are small, most have permanent residents and therefore places to stay if thats your plan. Most are small enough to walk across in minutes and mobility is rarely an issue where it sometimes might be on the larger islands.

ON THE HOP The main attraction for me about these islands is how

Stradbroke and Moreton islands in Moreton Bay, so this gives an angler a fair few options. There are obviously options outside of the Brisbane region and the same principals being discussed can be taken north, give or take a few crocs!

Larger islands As some of these islands are quite sizeable, it leaves no doubt that you could fish for weeks on end and never fish the same piece of water twice. Just as the size of each island varies, so too do the species youll encounter and the terrain youll catch them in. Islands with open beach sides such as both Stradbroke islands and Moreton Island are the most talked about. Irrespective of the fishing you do, these larger islands will have something youll enjoy concentrating your efforts on as a land-based angler. One day you could be catching trevally,

the humble, unassuming inner bay islands can turn the fishing on like a light!

Smaller islands While the inner bay islands cant offer you any beach or rock hopping options, they can offer you access to some fantastic estuarine fishing, including some of the best squid fishing in Queensland! The smaller islands like Macleay, Karragarra, Lamb, Russel and Coochiemudlo islands are all accessible by barge. For those who love throwing lures at flathead, bream, snapper, mulloway and other much-loved estuarine species, the inner bay islands have much to offer. With a variety of sand, weed beds, rocky banks and rubble patches, they are known to house a plethora of bay-going species. Despite being somewhat limited in options,

cheaply they can be accessed without your own boat. You could be fishing on Russel Island, receive intel from a mate at Karragarra whos catching some stonking flatties and you could be there within half an hour with a swipe of your go-card! You might even be casting squid jigs from Manly or Cleveland with no luck because of dirty water; a $10 note and a quick trip over to North Straddie might just save the day! The islands of Moreton Bay offer some great alternative options to the generally over-fished mainland and are more than reachable to young anglers without a lot of dough up their sleeves. Anyone looking to try something a little different and experience some line-burning, land-based action should delve into the unsung world of island hopping!

Sometimes you just have to be in the right spot at the right time. Island gun fisher Kaspar Lenigas sight-casted this 70cm golden trevally on a Jackson Rogos

105s, which gave him some grief around some oyster-encrusted pylons.

Hooked up and losing line on one of Moreton Bays Islands!

14 DECEMBER 2014

HOOK ONE OF

Some items may differ in appearance from pictures and every effort has been made to ensure the advertised stock is available. No rain checks. Prices are valid until 31 December 2014. Some items may differ in appearance from pictures and every effort has been made to ensure the advertised stock is available. No rain checks. Prices are valid until 31 December 2014.

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HOOK ONE OF

Some items may differ in appearance from pictures and every effort has been made to ensure the advertised stock is available. No rain checks. Prices are valid until 31 December 2014. Some items may differ in appearance from pictures and every effort has been made to ensure the advertised stock is available. No rain checks. Prices are valid until 31 December 2014.

BUFF HIGH UV PROTECTIONThe Original Multifunctional Headwear. 95% Ultraviolet. Huge Colour Range.

ZEREK BLUEWATER PELAGICZBuilt for Harsh Saltwater Trolling Troll up to 18km/h 2 Sizes

EVERGREEN NOISY DACHSCustom Wooden Swimbait Perfect for Cod & Barra. 3 Great Colours.

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DAIWA AIRD 100HThe Ultimate Entry Level Baitcaster. Bullet Proof Gearing System and 9 Ballbearings.

P 07 3398 6500 436 OLD CLEVELAND ROAD

CAMP HILL QLD 4152 WWW.TACKLEWAREHOUSE.COM.AU

ROD AND REEL REPAIRS

ALL STAFF ARE EXPERIENCED ANGLERS

OPEN 7 DAYS [EXCEPT CHRISTMAS DAY]

MAIL ORDERS AVAILABLE

GIFT VOUCHERS

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FOR GREAT ADVICE AND THE LARGEST

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Snapper Feature

The idea for trolling for snapper all started about 10 years ago after a surprise capture made me think outside the box! We were fishing off the top of Fraser Island, andhad been catching some big 7-10kg golden trevally on an offshore rubble patch. The sounder showed the depth was 22m (70ft) with yakka schools rising up 10m off the bottom,

Advanced trolling for snapper the easy wayHERVEY BAYMark Bargenquast

the big arches over the top were obviously goldens, or so I thought We had been drifting plastics in the bait school, averaging a nice capture every 5 minute drift. I still had a rod rigged with a deep diver from a barra charter the day before, so I thought why not? and had a client drop the lure out back as I idled back over the bait school. I was not that surprised when he yelled he had a fish on, another goldy I thought. However, I was totally surprised when a 7kg

snapper was brought boat-side, the gold 20+ Killalure River Rat firmly in its jaws! This got me thinking, why would a snapper take a lure running at 20ft while trolling in 70ft of water? The answer was simple, the fish were above the bait school hunting down stray yakkas just like a trevally or mackerel. After this episode I really started to think outside the box and applying basic deep barra trolling techniques. We then started to consistently catch good numbers of snapper on the troll, and it was certainly no fluke. During the next few years, lure development surged ahead: Halco released the Crazy Deep 125 and 150 Scorpion, a lure that could reach 10m (30ft) on correct tackle; the Poltergeist also made the same depth; Sebile came onto the market with some extra deep divers, the Koolie Minnow in 135 and 190mm; and Classic Barra released the Dr Evil, based on a freshwater cod style lure with a 6m depth label (we hit bottom in 42ft with the correct troll). Our catches went through the roof, often out-fishing the plastic and bait guys. I knew I was onto something here! I invited a good mate John

Haenke who makes Fishing Downunder and we filmed a segment for The Fishing DVD. The tides were not perfect but we managed 5-6 fish to 7kg during the middle of the day, this started to get people interested! As time went on, techniques have been refined, and trends started to take shape. A major key to trolling for snapper is to find the bait, I have rarely caught snapper when no bait is present. Hervey Bay during winter has

will be moving, so I use a good side imaging sounder to keep on them. A good technique is to troll a figure 8 around the bait; most snapper will be within 100m from the bait, sometimes circling around. Find them on the sonar and get a lure above them and you will get the bite. Lure selection can be critical, all of the above mentioned lures can dive below 10m (30ft) and this seems to be the magic mark. Above that and you will halve

Finns braid, and when we stepped down to 20lb Finns, the catch rate improved again, why? Simple, the thinner line allowed the lure to run even deeper again remember its all about depth. Working on this principal I took a chance and stepped down to 10lb braid. However, in Hervey Bay, the bait schools are surrounded by big 10kg goldies, 20kg longtails and cobia up to 45kg, which meant the 10lb just doesnt cut it. The step back to 20lb was

big schools of yakkas and sand trevally that enter the area to spawn, these are a high value food source for snapper that also enter the bay to spawn. Dont worry about depth of the bait as long as you can find some on your sounder and keep on it, the snapper will be close by. Most of these bait schools

your catch rate easy, simple as that. Most of the areas I troll are deeper than 40ft, obviously in shallower water you will need shallower lures. This technique has worked well for me in depths as deep as 120ft, still consistently catching snapper at 30ft. Line selection is also critical, we started using 30lb

inevitable. Leader is another vital piece of the puzzle. After years of trial and error, 1m of 30lb fluorocarbon is the go. Any shorter and the fish will see the braid while closing in on the lure and shy away. The best time to troll is often during the middle of the run, especially around the

Downriggers are often overlooked for deep trolling in Australia, but they can get any lure way down deep.

A decent snapper caught on a gold 125mm Halco Crazy Deep.

Some top snapper trolling lures: Halco Crazy Deep, Classic Dr Evil and Sebile Koolie Minnow DD.

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Snapper Feature

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Bait ball on the sounder and the angler is hooked up on the bow, doesnt get much better!

spring tides when the tide is raging. This helps concentrate the bait along ridgelines, on pressure waves and behind structure, which will also concentrate the snapper. It always amuses me how anglers bomb baits to the bottom with heavy leads, go to any aquarium and watch the snapper, they are as pelagic as any trevally often swimming mid water, rarely stopping on the bottom. This is why deep trolling can be so effective as the lure is really in their hunting zone for maximum time. Even though all these techniques were in Platypus Bay and in close off Rainbow Beach, they will work exactly the same anywhere snapper are regulars. You can even scale the whole thing down for close inshore work on smaller fish, smaller lures and lighter lines.

Troll speed seems to be ideal between 3-3.5 knots, or around 1200rpm, with a 115hp 4-stroke. I have caught them doing 6 knots while circling back over a good show but that was only a couple of times. Most of these lures work their best at the 3-4 knot range and possibly tow at a greater depth, remember depth is critical. Tide changes can produce a few bites, but generally early morning and late arvo with no sun on the water is optimum for all predators, but midday to 1pm have thrown

up some monster fish over the years 7-11kg, which is big for SE QLD. So there you have it, snapper trolling is not hard, persistence is the key. Forget having a 10 minute go, stick it out and Im sure you will be impressed. On a parting note, I only ever took one fish and released everything else, our best day was 17 snapper over 6kg (or 80cm) as these fish were dripping with roe when lifted from the water and were all released. Good luck and enjoy the strike.

Big golden trevally often school with snapper and can make light tackle fishing tough!

For Mike Duncan and Ben Capper, who booked a charter with Ross McCubbin and Ben Job on Lucky Strike, it turned out to be their lucky day. Thanks to Ross, after trolling

skirts for just over an hour wide of theGold Coast, they got a double hook up on

yellowfin tuna, weighing 28 and 35kg!

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Snapper Feature

Floatlining is fast becoming the preferred way to fish for larger snapper and other reef species. Its an extremely effective way to fish, and has been underused for a long time. Its also versatile, working just as well mixed in a berley trail as it does drifting towards a school of surface feeding tuna, and it doesnt have to be complicated either.

FOOLING THE FISH Larger fish normally work their way up into a berley trail to feed or work the outer areas of the reef, leaving the smaller fish to work closer to cover. Its these canny, bigger fish that you want to entice, so you want as natural a presentation as possible. Thats where floatlining comes in this technique is

Floatlining for big snapperfishingcaloundra@yahoo.com.au

CALOUNDRABradMcKendrick

slowly and naturally, and is therefore more tempting to the fish. Unlike a big, heavy lead hurtling towards the bottom at breakneck speed, floatlining doesnt spook the fish anywhere near as often as other methods do. Smaller, food-obsessed fish may not be put off by a big lead with a bait spinning above it, but an older, wiser fish may well think twice before approaching. Floatlining can be accomplished by using a single, double or treble hook rig, depending on what you need to cover your bait. For instance, if you are lucky enough to have big pilchards, you may decide to use a gang of hooks, or you could use two hooks in a snell configuration for whole squid and suchlike. Just dont fall into the trap of taking the word floatlining literally! A more accurate name for this technique would be slow sinking. You want your bait

the most effective method of presenting bait naturally, enticing those large, wary predators to the hook. Its the presentation of the bait, rather than the bait itself, that makes all the difference. The bait wafts

to get down to where the fish are, and for that you need to take the current strength and depth into consideration (a slow to medium current is best for floatlining). You may need to use a small weight to help your bait fall

at the same rate the berley does. The rule of thumb is this: if youre not getting a

to continually let out line by stripping line from the reel, wait for it to sink to the desired depth and then repeat the process. Alternatively you can simply let out a measured amount of line to the depth you think you should be targeting. This f loatl ining method works better with baitrunner-style reels because you can control the drop by using the drag. Of course, you can use spin reels and overheads provided you have a measureable depth marked on your line. Lines like Pioneer Palladium braid are great because theyre colour coded at 10m intervals. Alternatively, you could tie a mark on the line at certain intervals to let you know when youre getting close to the depth. A fluorocarbon leader running off either braid or mono main line will enhance the presentation of the bait and not spook the big predators. The choice of line is entirely up to the individual angler. Some anglers like mono because its stretchy and forgiving, and any older, more educated fish are presumably less likely to smell a rat. However,

bite youre not amongst the fish, so you need to add or subtract weight accordingly.

TACKLE AND TECHNIQUE

There are a couple of ways that you can floatline for snapper. One way is

A more accurate name for floatlining would be slow sinking.

Floatlining doesnt spook the fish anywhere near as often as other methods do, which is perfect for targeting big snapper!

Floatlining is a true tried and preferred method for catching snapper.

19DECEMBER 2014

Snapper Feature

I prefer braid as my main line because the lack of stretch allows me to get a full feel for everything the fish is doing. Braid is probably the best option to start out with if youre new to this style of fishing. There are a number of options to set up the rig. You

can either run the sinker directly onto the hooks or set the sinker back up the line, allowing the bait to float naturally. I can tell you with confidence that either method will work if the balance of weight to current is right. The key is to use as little weight

Large snapper will work their way up into a berley trail leaving the smaller fish closer to cover. Its these canny, bigger fish that you want

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as possible, just enough to keep your bait heading down slowly towards the

reef. When fishing depths of 20-40m you may only need up to a size 4 ball

sinker in current but if you are out over 70m you can expect to use anything from a 4 ball sinker through to an ounce, and in some circumstances far more. Snapper and other large predators have particularly

hard mouths that need a strong hook to ensure a solid hook-up. Circle hooks

are the first choice of many anglers, and I certainly prefer the security that they offer. I have found Mustad and Tru-Turn hooks to be ideal for preparing ganged or snelled rigs. When the fish takes the bait and turns,

these hooks effortlessly push into the fishs lip. Theres no need for the

angler to strike the fish will usually hook itself. At most, a slow lift is all thats needed to set a circle hook. So if youre after a better class of fish, try floatlining and start fooling those big, wary knobbies.

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20 DECEMBER 2014

Last month Starlo talked about the absolute basics of using a modern depth sounder or sonar. This time, he takes it a step further and moves into the realm of slightly more advanced sonar signal interpretation. In the first instalment of this double-header, I briefly described what depth sounders or sonar units are, outlined the basics of how they work, and explained that most new chums and casual

Depth sounder basics

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NSW STH COASTSteveStarling

users are best off to simply turn their units on, hit auto and let them do their own thing (after first ensuring that the showroom simulator mode has been deactivated, of course). For some people, this will be enough. Naturally, however, many keener sonar users will soon wish to begin exploring the wider capabilities of their sounders by tweaking and twiddling the various controls. How these work varies somewhat from one brand and model to another, and I cant stress strongly enough the importance of carefully reading the manual that came with your sounder,

as well as jumping online to watch any video clips or tutorials pertaining to it. Theres a remarkable amount of information out there, and a simple search engine query listing the make and model of your sounder will most likely bring up all sorts of useful (and not so useful) links. You can refine this search process further by adding words or phrases such as sensitivity, frequency, surface clutter, colour line, scroll speed and so on to find out more about those various functions and tweaks, then apply them when on the water. In many ways, this is not unlike tuning a television in order to obtain the clearest and most pleasing picture for your eye. The best settings to use will vary slightly depending on the depth of water youre operating in, as well as the speed of your boat and the amount of suspended matter in the water column. Theres no one size fits all answer to the best combination of settings, so you may need to fiddle a bit from day to day or even hour to hour, but dont become fixated with all this button pushing and forget that youre out there to catch fish! Also, learn how to

return your unit to its factory default settings in case you screw things up! Finally, its worth noting that sounder technologies have improved at an exponential rate in recent years, and the quality of underwater imaging now available at a reasonable price is nothing short of staggering. Most makes now offer enhanced, high

definition (HD) imaging technologies in their premium units under a range of titles such as CHIRP (compressed high intensity radar pulse), StructureScan, Side Imaging, DownScan, SpotlightScan and so on. Basically, these technologies all make use of more powerful and focussed beams of sound waves, combined with enhanced

imaging software, to paint a clearer, more defined and detailed picture of whats under, alongside and even ahead of your vessel. In many ways, these modern systems are like narrow-beamed spotlights compared to the virtual floodlights of older-style sonar. Its really worth bearing that analogy in mind, because there are obviously times and places where the broader (albeit it less bright) illumination of a floodlight can actually be more useful than the narrow, confined but intense beam of a spotlight, and vice versa Its a matter of horses for courses and both formats still have their place. In closing, Ive included the standard sonar images I used with last months column, but now with their enhanced, narrow beam counterparts right alongside, as well as an interesting stand-alone StructureScan image Hopefully you will find these screen shots, comparisons and the accompanying captions describing them illuminating, if youll pardon the pun.

On the left is a sonar image from last months column showing the bottom, a little less than 6m below the boat, and a blob of something in mid-water, plus some

smaller possible scattered targets. The much narrower, more intense StructureScan beam, portrayed on the right, reveals the blob as 2 separate schools of fish,

and also shows another single fish near the bottom, just right of centre.

Modern, high definition sonar (in this case, Lowrances StructureScan) at its finest. This readout provides an incredibly clear picture of a very large rock outcrop on the lakebed, with a dead tree standing not far away. The presence of distinct shadows and highlights in this spot light view give a 3D effect and make the picture so much clearer.

Last month we saw only the basic sonar image (left) of this reading, showing a dense layer of something extending a good 2.5m up from the bottom in 5.6m of water. Snags? Weed? Fish? We could only guess. This month Ive included the high definition, narrow-beam DownScan image on the right, clearly revealing that layer of something as a thick school of moderate sized fish (they turned out to be tailor), with a ball of baitfish under them, and also scattered individual targets (bream and trevally) hard on the bottom.

In this split screen image we see the bottom shelving up and half a dozen or more targets in mid-water. The more detailed StructureScan image on the right shows those targets as individual fish of a reasonable size.

PART II

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The Yucatan knot was first developed in the sport fishing waters off Cancun and Isla Mujeres. It is generally considered to be a good knot for connecting doubled main lines to heavy leaders. Some say that the Yucatan is not suited for light leaders, however, this is probably because the quality/brand of the two components (mainline and leader) will strongly influence the integrity of

The Yucatan knotBRISBANEKimBain

the knot. For example, with this knot the leader must form around the braid and on some hard leaders this may not be possible. Likewise, the Yucatan knot must be formed using an unbroken (full loop intact) double, such as can be formed using a bimini twist (or spider hitch). One philosophy behind the Yucatans popularity is that if it is tied to connect 50lb braid to 80lb leader, such as you might when reef fishing, then the 50lb braid might test at 65lb breaking strain which is then doubled to give

a potential 130lb limit; concurrently the 80lb rated leader is unlikely to break at over 100lb breaking strain. Throw in a few nicks in the leader and youll pop the so-called 80lb leader before you blow apart the 130lb breaking strain double. The finished knot is compact and very strong. It will pass through rod guides easily, making it suitable for repetitive casting techniques. The Yucatan is an excellent knot for joining heavy mono-type leaders to superbraid mainlines.

1

2

3 4

Make a short double line using a bimini twist to form the double. Lay the double alongside the leader (parallel to but opposite in direction). An overlap of 20cm is a good measure.

Wrap the super braid double line 12-15 times around the leader, or as many times as you can for mono to leader connections, probably around 6 turns. Knots that require multiple turns of line must lie and draw up neatly, without line overlapping.

Now bend the tag end of the leader back on itself and feed it through the loop end of the double line.

Lubricate with saliva and carefully pull the knot tight. Pull the doubled line and the leader in opposite directions to tighten knot. Note that although the wraps were made with the doubled line, when the knot is pulled tight the leader will wrap onto the doubled line. Trim the tag end of the leader close to the knot.

YUCATAN KNOTleader

doubled superbraid

12-15 turns

feed tag end of leader through end loop of double

spider-hitch or Bimini Twist

YUCATAN KNOTleader

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spider-hitch or Bimini Twist

YUCATAN KNOTleader

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24 DECEMBER 2014

Its time to gear up for bass on the attackbjpcdh@gmail.com

ILUKABenPilch

Come December, the east coast hot currents are boring down from Queensland and our run of pelagics is in full swing. Chasing spotted mackerel will be the mainstay offshore from the lower Clarence, and the usual mack grounds like Shark Bay and Angourie should see a fair bit of traffic and fish in the coming months. As stated last issue, a little common sense and consideration of others goes

a long way to making life on the water a little easier and more relaxed at this congested time of year. The favourite lure to troll for macks is a pink squid of around 6 long with a number 4 bean sinker squeezed tightly into its head. A 30cm length of 60lb seven-strand wire passes though the skirt and sinker. Attached at one end is an appropriately rated rolling swivel, and at the other a 6/0 straight shank hook spaced so it just pokes out the back of the skirt. Tie all that to the end of a 20-30lb outfit and you have yourself the perfect combo for

chasing spotties. In the river, the flathead will have moved down to the mouth to breed. While being a fun fish to catch, dont forget the big females are our breeding stock and deserve to be released. Take a few brag pics and pop them back in the drink. There should definitely be plenty of good eating size flatties around the usual haunts. Places like North Arm, Oyster Channel and Browns Rocks should all hold quality fish from just legal up to 50cm. Soft plastics and blades are the best way to round up a feed, hopping them along the bottom on sandy dropoffs near weed beds. This season is shaping up to be as good as last year for both blue swimmer and mud crabs. Places like the North and South arms, Lake Woolawayer and the Broadwater were all good producers, and should be again this year. The mighty Clarence River and all her tributaries have been firing on the bass front of late. Myself and a couple of mates have been making quite a few trips upstream, enjoying plenty of surface action on Croaker Lures Surface Paddlers in the late afternoon and early

mornings. During the day, Beetle Spins rolled through the snags have been our best producers. It pays to up the gear weight a little when working so close to snags, as it saves losing lures from getting bricked. Bass are one of my all-time favourite lure targets, as they are such a fun, hard-hitting fish. While on the subject of upstream species, its almost time to go chase another classic freshwater fish, as cod season is about to open.

A nice bass plucked out of the snags on a Beetle Spin during the day.

Kaleum Gannon with a nice afternoon Croaker Lure victim.

Your columnist with another surface-hitting bass that took a liking to a Croaker.

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26 DECEMBER 2014

Warm water awaitstris.sloan@gmail.com

BALLINATristan Sloan

As I sit here writing this report, I find myself mulling over last weekends fishing. After a month of Saturday mornings staring at the Richmond River bar covered by enormous swells, we finally managed to launch the boat on a picture perfect morning and head offshore. And what a morning it was! Plenty of big snapper on soft plastics, a few mahimahi from a fish trap float on the 42f line, and we even had a marlin come up and sneak a look at our lure spread. The best news is that the conditions are only

going to get better towards Christmas, especially with the water warming. Pearl perch, snapper, kingfish and amberjack will all be likely propositions on the wider grounds. I generally target these fish with knife jigs and soft plastics, especially the heavy elevator style soft plastic heads produced by Berkley. Jig sizes range from 200-500g and soft plastic heads can be anything from 55-120g. While many deepwater jiggers commonly use heavy trace in the 80-150lb range, even in deep water you can get away with traces from 30-60lb for soft plastics, as the fish will often be some way off the bottom, giving you time to wrestle it

away from structure before getting bricked. While last weekend demonstrated that there are a few small black marlin poking about, they dont normally hit the inshore grounds until the weeks leading up to Christmas. It is very much dependent of the amount of bait available. A good tactic, therefore, is to cruise over the inshore grounds early morning and make a snap decision based on the amount of bait present. If bait is scarce, and it frequently is at this time of year, we often head out to the FAD on the 32f line, catch a few willing mahimahi and snapper, and then tow skirted lures around on the top of the tide change.

This is prime time for marlin activity, and its not uncommon to score some much welcome bycatch in the form of wahoo at this time of year. Strong multistrand cable wire run between two hooks on skirted Pakula lures means that we dont lose too many of these toothy critters, and it doesnt seem to put the marlin off at all either. While a few locals will be quietly hoping the mackerel show this month, it doesnt normally happen until early January. Ive never managed to figure out why this is the case, as they certainly should arrive at both the Gold Coast and the Clarence by the time this article goes to print. Its probably worth spending a bit of time inshore if the water is warm and the slimy mackerel are in abundance, but otherwise I would bide my time. Once they do arrive, the grapevine normally fires up and it isnt long before every man and his dog are fishing for them. The river will continue to produce good mangrove jacks and bream around the lower rock walls this month, with the larger fish falling to those who put in the hours at night. This is especially the case with the red devils, who leave the safety of their holes once the sun has set. Flathead will be falling to lures and bait all the way from the mouth of the river to Wardell, with plenty of big females still to be found in the lower river recovering

from their breeding efforts in spring. I often plan a days fishing in summer to take advantage of all the species on offer in the river. This usually entails fishing the run-in tide for whiting with either bait or lures, spending the top of the tide targeting bream or jacks around the boating pontoons and rock walls, and then drifting the channels on the run-out tide for flathead. A handy trick is to keep a few of your legal whiting alive in the bait tank and use them as live bait for a monster flathead. You will often catch flathead between 60-90cm using this method, and plenty of times you get the whiting back too, albeit a little worse for wear. I pin the whiting through the top jaw with just enough lead to keep it on the bottom, and put the rod in a holder while drifting around

throwing lures. A circle hook ensures that 90% of the time any fish hooked is easy to release. A few mud crabs collected from the pots dropped off in Emigrant Creek in the morning makes for an enjoyable and tasty days fishing. If your prefer to have your feet in the sand, Seven Mile and South Ballina beaches should be the pick for those chasing a feed this month, with bream, whiting and dart being the mainstays. Taking the kids to the beach so you can sneak in a few hours fishing is a great summer outing. A rising tide, a prominent gutter or hole with a nice covering of white water, and fresh baits in the form of pipis, worms, yabbies or mullet fillets will practically guarantee a feed of bream. Have a lovely Christmas and I hope to see you all on the water over the holidays.

Say cheese! Expect to see plenty of great eating size mahimahi lurking around the FAD this month.

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Summer yakin on the TweedTHE TWEEDDavid Solano

Its December on the Tweed, holidays are coming up, the water is hot and the place is pretty packed with shore-based fishos. So you want to get a tinny, then you can fish the river in peace, however they can be a bit expensive. Then you have the ongoing money pit; the fuel, the insurance, registration, safety gear and so on. This was my predicament 10 years ago, so what did I do? I bought a fishing kayak and havent looked back since. I can remember all the strange looks my mate and I used to get as we launched our yaks. People pointed at us

sometimes openly laughing! None of that happens now, in fact pretty much the opposite, as sometimes its hard to get on the water with folks looking at my yak in awe, asking questions about all the gear its pretty cool to see people getting excited about yak fishing! Slowly but surely over the years, the number of people fishing from yaks has exploded and for good reason. Youre sneaky, the fish cant hear you coming, you cant get that same stealth in a boat, yaks can go where boats cant and theres a lot of shallow areas in the Tweed. One thing that happened was that I accidentally got physically fit as we were paddling all over the place chasing fish, it

didnt occur to me that I was working out, Geez! I even got my 6-pack back! The dollar is not a factor in buying a kayak, Ive seen them from as little as $100, but they do go right up to $5,000. Some pretty cool spots to fish from a yak on the Tweed are the Cobaki and Terranora lakes area and all the little tributaries around it. Youll often find you have the place to yourself and a lot of

decent flathead can be found here even in the summer. A very pleasant launching area to get to these spots is the beach behind the Maritime Museum on Kennedy Drive. As you are paddling away, take time to check the old trees that line the route, its totally Jurassic! Just like it would have looked in Cooks day. What I like most about my yaks is the versatility, if I feel like an adventure; I

Some quality whiting have been taking surface lures lately and the action should get better with the warming weather.

The author holds up a shovel-class flathead. Flathead are still about in numbers in the Tweed and make for some great summer fun, especially out of a kayak.

can pack the tent, head down Murwillumbah way and explore some rivers looking for the elusive bass. I dont always fish off a yak as I love rock fishing and Im always going out on my mates boats, but a yak as a backup is gold. I run a Hobie Outback and an H20 Murray, ones a pedal, the other a paddle power. Something to keep in mind is that you can buy a tinny probably cheaper than a new Hobie, but if you offered me a swap for a boat for either of my yaks Id say NO WAY!WHERE ARE THE FISH? This time of year everything turns around, the

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I love December! The days are longer and theres a stack of different species to chase.

OFFSHORE In the last few years, we have had some great heavy tackle blue marlin fishing wide off the Gold Coast this time of year and by the look of things, December 2014 will be no different! Blue marlin are generally found east of the 100m line. Areas like the Riv Grounds, Jims Mountain, The Kink and the Tweed Canyons are all worth a go. By trolling skirted lures around 7-17 long (depending on the size of the bait around), you are always in with a shot. Theres a lot of marlin lures available and they all catch fish, but I cant help but have a few favourites. I stick with brands such as Pakula, Aloha and the locally made Black Snacks, just to name a few. Beware, 24kg outfits are considered light when venturing out there and proper tackle preparation is a must! Its looking like its going to be a cracker light

STH GOLD COASTBenJob

Yahoo for wahoo this December holidays

tackle black marlin season. Many of us have been tracking these fish as they move down the coast and are eagerly awaiting their arrival. These little guys are great fun and at times you can expect to get 5-10 bites per day. These fish are

generally in the 1530kg size bracket, though bigger and smaller fish are always on the cards. Trolling skirted lures 6-7.5 in length is an effective way of catching them but methods like skipping and swimming gar and fishing live baits

are at times very effective. Most fish are quite easily subdued on 8-10kg line, but if you are in a small boat or shorthanded it can be not a bad idea to run a little bit heavier line such as 15kg. This will result in a better release for the

fish as they wont spend extended times on the end of the line. Locations vary from season to season, but Kirra Reef and The Gravel Patch usually produce good numbers. Mackerel, wahoo and mahimahi will also be around and if you are chasing a feed then all these fish are great on the table. These fish are all common by-catch when marlin fishing, so its worth taking an esky and ice to keep your catch in prime condition.

INSHORE A lot of fishos will be chasing jacks this month, and why not! Jacks are an awesome sport fish and its not hard to see why they are on so many anglers bucket list. I love catching jacks and am often found floating around the Gold Coast canals and rivers throwing lures at them. I use 20-30lb line and 40lb leader when jack fishing. I like to use a variety of lures, mainly trying to target the depth that the fish are feeding in. Ill use lures ranging from 1-30ft, as well as a variety of soft plastics. I dont believe lure choice makes a huge difference for jacks, as long as its in their zone, which is why

I use a lure with varying depths. I target rock walls, rocky points, lowdown timber, pontoons and rock bars. Basically, they can be found anywhere with a bit of structure. Whiting should be around in numbers around the Council Chambers and Monaco Street. They are best targeted using bloodworms or small black soldier crabs. Light line is key for big whiting, and 4-6lb braid with a long 8lb leader is perfect. Just a simple running sinker rig is generally the way to go. I vary my sinker size depending on the tidal flow and use a trace around 1m with a size 4-6 hook. Mud crabs will be on the march in December and provide an awesome feed. The trick to catching muddies is to work out what tide they are most active at the time and what depth they are working in. This can be heavily dictated by how much rain we have. Any fish frames or chicken carcasses will suffice as bait. Remember, 4 pots per person and make sure they are clearly marked, you wouldnt want to ruin a good day on the water by getting a fine!

Wahoo will be on the cards and provide an excellent feed. Remember to throw them on ice quickly after capture.

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33DECEMBER 2014

Christmas has finally arrived and with a lot of fish on the bite I reckon we will have a ball! Most baits and lures have been producing some quality fish. A lot more bream anglers in their flash bass boats have come into our canals, which can only mean one thing, the bream are on the bite. Hardbodies in purple and natural colours slow rolled is a deadly technique. Fishing the low tide around jetties and casting around the sand bank line has lead to many successful sessions. Mangrove jack are hitting the canals, but like always, they can be hard to catch. If you put the hours in chasing them, the results will come. Keep your lure close as possible to the structure in the form of rock walls, jetties or pylons. The faithful 4 minnow type lures with a reasonable jighead has been a great combo for jacks. The Z-Man 4 SwimmerZ or DieZel MinnowZ in bright colours like white, green or a mix of the two have been working a treat.

Surface carnage in the canalsGOLD COAST CANALSJosh Dunnwww.tackletactics.com.au

In the next month or two, the waters will definitely warm up and we should get a few storms. This will have a huge effect on fishing.

Summer is known for a lot of stormy weather, so be prepared and safe. On the other hand, stormy and hot weather will bring fish the on the bite, so too will a cool change. Now and within the next few months the surface action will go off! Plenty

more fish will be smashing bait (also your lures) on the surface! This is why I love fishing, seeing a fish go out of its way to chase down

your lure and smash it on the surface. If fishing was a drug, this is what would keep me addicted for sure! Predators that will chase your lures down include bass, bream, jacks and trevally. Ive found the best time for a canal system to fire is an early morning or late

afternoon on a high tide. Bass are off their treetops at the moment down around Clear Water Islands. Kayaks are perfect for an early

or poppers extremely close to the edge and bringing it back is a great way to catch these fish. Ive been catching plenty of flathead in the canals lately, which is a good sign for the months to come. Fish around 40cm are common. Blades have been my go-to lure in my recent trips, but most colours are producing fish. Fish them slow and along the bottom with slow lifts of the rod tip.

Thats one whole year of writing for. QFM and most importantly Steve Booth had taught me a lot about writing, but I thank everyone and cant wait to see what next year and the future holds! Stay safe this holiday season and Merry Christmas. December is a great month for all our estuarine species, so get out there and catch them!

morning hot surface bite and this approach should lead to plenty of fun! If you can find a nice stream in the hinterlands or some fresh water around Robina, you should be in for a chance in the early morning (early as in hit the water at 4am). Casting plastics, spinnerbaits

William Smedley with a solid 50cm jack caught on bream gear in Tallebudgera on

the new Z-Man 2.5 Slim SwimZ!

A decent flathead landed on a TT Lures 1/8oz Switchblade. Blades are great for catching flathead in the canals.

Photo courtesy of Will Smedley.

34 DECEMBER 2014

December should really turn on the action, with the annual run of small black marlin and the estuary fish biting their heads off, whats not to love about the festive season?

OFFSHORE There were good reports of lots of small black marlin in Hervey Bay last month and these fish should turn up in numbers off the Gold Coast this month. As the East Australian current moves in close to the coast and the water temperature increases to around 25C, there should be plenty of action from the grounds north of Jumpinpin right down to the Tweed Coast. At the start of the season I like to work the more northern grounds around the Cotton Reef, Sullies and the 20 fathom line north of Jumpinpin Bar right up to Point Lookout. There are plenty of ways to target black marlin, but trolling lures is generally simple and productive, although the hook up rate is a lot lower than bait fishing. Small 15-25cm skirts rigged on 100-150lb leaders using 10/0 Gamakatsu SL12 saltwater fly hooks work well for me. Good lures are small Pakulas, Meridians and the locally made Black Snacks.

Impending marlin madnessGOLD COASTDavidGreen

Good colours are blue and silver, purple over pink and lumo green, but colour preferences vary from day to day. Good alternative methods include trolling swimming and skipping gars and slow trolled live slimies. If I find a big school of pilchards or slimies, I generally change from lures to live baits. As well as marlin there should be good numbers of

mahimahi from small fish around 2kg up to big bulls over 15kg. There have already been quite a few caught throughout October. Wahoo should also start to show and cause a lot of lure damage. I find that when wahoo start to show, it is a good idea to troll a Halco Laser Pro in with the skirted lures as these can keep the teeth away from your expensive skirts and catch a good feed. Small yellowfin and striped tuna also respond to the same methods. This month also sees the blue marlin activity increase out on the wide grounds and over the past 2 years, December has produced a lot of big blue marlin off the Gold Coast. These require stand up 37kg tackle to get consistent results. The 24kg is a bit light on the bigger fish and it can be a real struggle to get them up out of deep water. I like to work the area northeast of the Gold Coast Seaway in a depth between 150-400m. Catching big blue marlin from a trailer boat is one of the most challenging ways to fish and while some days are doughnuts, the rewards are great when you see a big

blue crash a lure and the reel growl under heavy drag. Out wide the by-catch in December is generally big mahimahi and big wahoo. You need good sea conditions to work the wide grounds, as you will generally be at least 50km from the Seaway. Bottom fishing this month slows down a lot as the current warms and runs hard but there should still be a few kings, amberjacks and pearl perch around. In closer to shore the spotted mackerel and a few early season Spaniards and cobia should start to turn up on Palm Beach Reef. Last years mackerel season was outstanding and I hope this year is a repeat of the great fishing we saw earlier in the year.ESTUARIES AND RIVERS. As the water warms up, the flathead start to slow down markedly and most of the fishing action is centred on mangrove jack, mulloway, whiting, trevally and sand and mud crabs. Over the years, mangrove jack fishing has changed a lot, largely due to the huge number of floating pontoons that provide food and an all tide shelter for jacks. The most successful local method, as popularised by local jack legend Mick Horn, is casting paddle-tail plastics along the edge of pontoons and working them quickly back so they swim about 30cm below the platform. This is an outstanding method but bust offs are common. You need to be quick to strike and get the head of the fish quickly or they will bust you off on

the poles and oyster-covered obstructions. Poppers are another good option and small deep diving hardbodies catch a lot of jacks as well. Trolling rock bars and long rocky walls is another good method. A lot of good jacks over 50cm in length will be caught this month, with the chance of a trophy 60cm fish if you are lucky enough to stop them. The really big ones are very tough to get out if hooked close to cover. Catching whiting on poppers is also worth a try this month. I like to use the Bassday Sugar Pen. Look for sandy areas with plenty of yabby holes and plenty

of current. It is amazing how sava