EXPERT ADVICE & KNOW-HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS

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AUGUST 2017
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 CONTENTS August 2017
40 CANOEING, CAMPING,
THE CREW
EDITORIAL
Editor
FEATURES AND COD
Andy McGovern details a few of
the tips and tricks hes learnt
Adam Nicolson
Senior Contributor
16 Chasing
FLAT-OUT BREAM!
bream in shallow ats
over the years doing extended
Al McGlashan canoe trips for cod. Pack the
waters is the ultimate way to bags and grab the canoe, its
DESIGN experience these sh on lures,
General Manager
time to head bush!
Sam Livolsi as Shane Murton discusses
Creative Director
Ryan Weeks
28 The
ROCK ON 50 Keen
BLACK MAGIC
to put your tackle to the
Graphic Designer
Scott Osborne vast shing options of test? John Boon reckons black
Australias rugged coastline jewsh are just the sh to do it
CONTRIBUTORS cater for the novice all the and offers some hot tips on how
Al McGlashan, Shane Murton, way to the seasoned experts, to catch them
Adam Nicolson, John Boon, making rock shing a super
Sammy Hitzke, Andrew McGovern
accessible, top shelf shery for
PRODUCTION
Production Manager
those who take the chance. 58 Sammy
HIP TOHitzke
BE SQUARE
outlines a new
Bronwyn Rowe
lure to hit the Aussie market
ADVERTISING
and explains why you need a
Director of Marketing
few in the top of your tackle box.
Glenn Wright Square bill Minnows are taking
Ph: (02) 9741 3922 the native scene by storm
Email: gwright@expresspublications.com.au
Creative Marketing Manager
Tim Ferrier
Ph: (02) 8719 3618
Email: tferrier@expresspublications.com.au
Advertising Production Co-ordinator
Lilian Vella
Ph: 02 9741 3815
Email: lvella@expresspublications.com.au

SUBSCRIPTIONS
Phone: (02) 9741 3888
Fax: (02) 9737 8017
Email: sales@emgstore.com.au
Back issues call: (02) 9741 3888

PUBLISHED BY
Published by EMG Express Media Group a
division of Express Publications Pty Limited ACN
057 807 904 2 Stanley Street NSW 2128 Australia
ph (02) 9741 3800 fax (02) 9748 1956, under
licence from General Newspapers Pty Limited
ABN 49 000 117 322, Double Bay Newspapers
Pty Limited ABN 22 000 237 598 and Suburban
Publications Pty Limited ABN 44 008 629 767.
All rights reserved.

DISTRIBUTED BY

28
Gordon & Gotch
26 Rodborough Road, Frenchs Forest NSW 2086

All material in this magazine is protected by copyright laws

and may not be reproduced in part or full without the written
permission of the publisher. Prices and dates quoted in
this issue were correct at the time of going to press
but might be subject to variation.
By submitting an unsolicited contribution to our magazine
you agree to provide us with a licence to reproduce your

58
material in print and electronic mediums worldwide with
the right to edit any written contributions.

All prices quoted in this magazine are current as at 16/05/17

68
 40 50

IN EVERY ISSUE
8 ON THE WATER
Ads gives his nal hurrah as
he departs the Modern Fishing
ofce for the nal time
10 SENIOR CONTRIBUTOR
Its not only the tuna that put a
smile on Als face in winter, the
deep dropping options are amazing
and come with a tasty reward!
12 THROUGH THE LENS
Check out some of the epic
captures from Modern Fishing
readers and nd out how you can
win with just the click of a shutter
68 ALL ROUND ANGLER
Shane looks at the highs and
lows of charter shing to help
you choose the right guide for
your needs
70 TECH TALK
Finesse shing is less about
downgrading your line size and
more about rening your approach
72 PRODUCT PROFILE
Toray produce a range of
class-leading shing lines and
leaders to suit all styles
74 PRODUCT PROFILE
The Oricom MX500 is a
lightweight and portable
waterproof VHF radio, perfect
for the shing or boating
enthusiast
76 THE GOODS!
A sneak peek at the latest
and greatest gear

16

MODERN FISHING 5
 THE ULTIMATE LONG-RANGE REEF EXPEDITIONS

GT POPPING, DOGTOOTH TUNA, HUGE CORAL TROUT, RED EMPEROR & SO MUCH MORE!

1
TR
IP
EXPLORING THE LAST FRONTIERS
The ultimate extended live-aboard sportshing trip to some of the most
remote and productive islands and atolls in the Coral Sea. A popping and
jigging specialty trip for hard-ghting GTs, dogtooth tuna, yellown tuna,
wahoo, marlin and more. Dont miss your opportunity to visit the infamous
Cato Island, the massive Wreck Reef Group and the sh-rich Frederick Reef.

2
TR
IP
ICONIC REEF FISHING EXPERIENCE
Step aboard the mothership Big Cat to experience some of the Great
Barrier Reefs hottest shing. Exotic species such as coral trout, sweetlip,
red emperor and more mixed with line-burning pelagics to make this trip
an unforgettable experience for all on board. Iconic destinations such as
Swains and the Bunker Group are awaiting your visit.

Phone: 07 3204 9340 Mob: 0438 812 384

Email: info@bigcatreality.com

www.bigcatreality.com
MF60_80
ON THE WATER
with Adam Nicolson
Ads reects on the
END OF THE ROAD
ts been one hell of a ride and Ive loved
I
every minute of it, but after three and a half
good times, and years serving faithfully as your Editor, its
time to pass on the torch and move forward.
I clearly remember exactly what I was
signs off as Editor GRLQJZKHQ,JRWWKHFDOOFRQUPLQJP\
SRVLWLRQZLWKWKHPDJDQG,FDQFRQGHQWO\
for Modern Fishing say that it was one of the best days Ive had on
this earth. To simply one day write an article for
DVKLQJPDJZDVDER\KRRGGUHDPRIPLQH
but never did I imagine I would one day be
the Editor of Modern Fishing, and still to this
day I pinch myself and wonder how this ever
happened. A bit of lady luck was on my side
that day no doubt.
Fast forward to this day and I feel a little
nostalgic about the experiences, and the
opportunity this magazine has given me. From
P\UVWZRUNWULSWR&DSH<RUNWKDWVDZXV
',<RXUZD\WKURXJKWKHYHU\WLSRIWKHFRXQWU\
DQGVKVRPHLQFUHGLEOHV\VWHPVVXFKDVWKH
-DFN\-DFN\DQGWKH-DUGLQH5LYHUWRVKLQJWKH
Gippsland region and somehow falling in love
with bream (something I never thought possible),
I have been lucky enough to visit some of the
most incredible places this amazing country
has to offer, ticking off the bucket list of species
LQUHFRUGWLPHDORQJWKHZD\7KHVKLQJZDV
8 www.modernfishing.com.au
always number one for me and I still relish every
RSSRUWXQLW\WRVKIRUP\IDYRXULWHVSHFLHVRU
JHWDZD\WRVKWKHPRVWUHPRWHRIORFDWLRQVLQ
fact in about three days time Ill be signing off
in style, boarding a mothership and heading
GHHSLQWRWKH&RUDO6HDRQ\HWDQRWKHUWULSRID
OLIHWLPH6RZKDWVHYHQPRUHVSHFLDOWKDQWKH
VKLQJ"7KHSHRSOH,YHPHWPRUHOLNHPLQGHG
people in my travels and through my work along
the way and I can honestly say that is the biggest
perk of the job, Ive forged lifelong friendships
and I know wherever I go now in this country,
Ill have a mate somewhere nearby to wet a line
with and its those friendships and connections
that I relish the most.
%HIRUH,RIFLDOO\VLJQRIIWKRXJK,QHHGWR
thank the most important people of them all
and that is you, the reader as without you my
life would never have been quite this good. For
everyone that bought a copy or subscription
over the years, anyone that read my work or
commented on my articles be it positive or
negative, I can assure you that I have taken
Ads
it all in and am forever
indebted to you all.
For the last time,
enjoy the mag!
 W
NE

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SENIOR CONTRIBUTOR
with Al McGlashan
Its not just tuna that
get Al excited with
the onset of winter,
the deep dropping
options are a whole
lot of fun with some
tasty rewards!
HAVE YOUR SAY!
Join the conversation at
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/MODERNFISHING
10 www.modernfishing.com.au
You can manually crank sh up
from these depths but most go for
the electric option. it hurts less!
TRUMPING TREVALLAinter has to be one of my favourite
W
times of year, the seas start to
settle down, the current eases up
and just about everything comes
RQWKHFKHZ7KHDWKHDGDUH
snapping in the estuaries, big
kings on the reefs, but it is offshore
that really gets me excited. Sure the marlin have
gone but they are replaced not just by tuna but
PRUHLPSRUWDQWO\VZRUGVKDQGGHHSZDWHU
ooglies. The deep really is the new frontier in
VKLQJDQGWKHDPRXQWRIOLIHWKDWUHVLGHVRQWKH
VHDRRUEH\RQGWKH&RQWLQHQWDO6KHOILVQRWKLQJ
short of staggering, and best off all they are all
absolute delicious.
1HDUO\DOORIWKHVHGHHSZDWHUVKDUH
sensational on the plate, but there is one stand
out species and that is the blue eye trevalla. They
WDNHDELWRIHIIRUWWRFDWFKWKH\GRQWJKWKDUG
but man I tell you they are absolutely insane
on the plate. Blue eye are a deepwater species
that live half a kilometre down. At these sort
of depths there is no light, so in essence they
live their entire life in complete darkness, as
no light can penetrate that far down. On top of
this I should add its barely a couple of degrees
A quality blue eye trevalla dragged
from over 450 metres deep
so hardly inviting conditions. Despite this
XQVDYRXU\HQYLURQPHQWWKHLUUPZKLWHHVKLV
nothing short of delicious making all the effort
worthwhile.
The fact they live at such great depths means
we can only target blue eye when the current
is slight and there is minimal wind, hence why
winter is the peak season. Too much wind or
current means you drift too fast making it
impossible to hold bottom. So in essence deep
dropping is restricted to calm conditions only,
which suits most anglers!
7KHNH\WRQGLQJWKHPLVWRORFDWHKDUG
bottom. Blue eye favour reefy terrain but to
locate structure at such depths means you need
WRLQYHVWLQVRPHVHULRXVVKQGHUWHFKQRORJ\
Its not cheap, but its essential technology if
you are serious about exploring the deep. If you
cant justify the dollars then you can still access
popular spots like Browns Mountain off Sydney
RUWKHFDQ\RQVRIIWKH*ROG&RDVWE\XVLQJD
decent plotter map, or a phone App for that
matter. The GPS marks for these locations are also
easily obtainable from your locate tackle shops
OLNHWKH&RPSOHDW$QJOHURUPRUHJHQHURXVPDWHV
The rig is a very simple two hook paternoster
set up except everything is beefed up. There is
QRQHHGIRUQHVVHZKHQVKLQJDWWKHVHGHSWKV
so 75kg leader with 14/0 circles crimped on
short droppers is all that is needed to get you in
the action. One thing I can suggest is to always
tie the sinker with a lighter line, say 15kg, that
way if you get it snagged up all you will lose
is the sinker and not the entire rig. Mind you,
the cost of lead is hideously expensive so it is
good practice to wind the gear up a bit so its
not dragging over the bottom. This will help
to minimise the chances of snagging, but you
VKRXOGVWLOOSD\FORVHDWWHQWLRQWRWKHVKQGHU
in case the bottom rises up.
Using circle hooks means you dont have to
set the hook, but it still pays to watch the rod
tip intently for bites. As soon as it loads up its
WLPHWRVWDUWFUDQNLQJ:LQGLQJDVKXSIURP
these depths is no easy chore so most anglers
take the easy option and employ an electric reel.
It certainly makes it less sporting, but you will
certainly be popular when you get home with
a fresh feed for the family. Get out there in the
deep and give it a go!
 keeping you
connected
We have the products for
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 THR UGH
M LENS
ZOO

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17

Congratulations to this months winner! Youre taking
away a brand new pair of Mako Escape polarised sunnies
and a Mako shing shirt and cap valued at over $390!
Mako Escape
HOW TO ENTER
Its pretty simple. Each month, well be posting the
competition on the Modern Fishing Facebook page and
all you need to do is drop your best pics in the comments
section and tag a shing buddy. Alternatively, you can
email us anytime at editorial@modernshing.com.au
with your best high resolution images. Get snapping!

WINNER

g of this months comp

Craig Ivison is the undisputed kinNew Zealand kingsh. Josh Marslen had a stellar day on the
with this cracking shot of a giant snapper, boating these two giants.
k!
Top shot Craig, enjoy the prize pac
Well done Josh!

Corey Dee landed this Michael Sammut boated

cracking land-based this absolute beast of
barra on topwater. a WA dhush, Wow!
Good stuff Corey! Amazing sh mate!

12 www.modernfishing.com.au
We know that shos around the country love a good
shy image and we want to showcase those epic
shots of yours and give you the chance to WIN BIG!

Jeff Gray sent in this shot of a big river

rainbow trout. Thanks for the pic Jeff!

Tony Bosch sent us in a great shot of this chunky Murray cod

caught on a soft plastic. Nice sh Tony!

Lauren Frew with a belter

long tail and an even better
shot. Nice work Lauren!

Luke Macey cracked a good barra recently

on a soft plastic. Nice sh Luke!

Sean Wescombe scored this monster blue groper

down in SA. Top sh Sean!

Mick Beale with a cracking

wild river Murray cod
caught running a deep div
er. Great sh Mick!

MODERN FISHING 13
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MAJOR FEATURE: BREAM ON THE FLATS

16 www.modernfishing.com.au
the ultimate way to experience these sh
on lures, as Shane Murton discusses
WORDS & IMAGES BY SHANE MURTON

MODERN FISHING 17
MAJOR FEATURE: BREAM ON THE FLATS
t was right on dark and I was in

I
waders walking the shoreline Surface lures help you
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Chasing bream in shallower
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ats waters has to be the
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ultimate bream on lures rush
Bream go hard in
the shallows!

18 www.modernfishing.com.au
Solid topwater sh for
the author caught late
in the day
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MODERN FISHING 19

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20 www.modernfishing.com.au
Big or small, when
they bash surfrace
lures worked over the
ats its all gold!
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 MAJOR FEATURE: BREAM ON THE FLATS

A soft plastic crab eating

bream caught on a
crystal clear at

Low light sessions are my

favourite and typically give up the
big numbers, with swarms of sh
at times hunting down lures
MODERN FISHING 21
MAJOR FEATURE: BREAM ON THE FLATS
TOPWATER TACTICS
When it comes time to rip some blue
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ERGLHVLQWKHVHDUHDVZKLFKUHQGHUV
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VSRRNWKHVHDOUHDG\RQHGJHVK
The sh was one of two 40cm plus
black bream pulled from a couple
of feet of water, literally right on the
stroke of nightfall in a classically
insane ats bite that makes this
shing so darn addictive!
At any size a ats
bream off the top
is cool fun!
22 www.modernfishing.com.au
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An early morning
sh off the surface

Its hard to resist the temptation to
strike at every bream swipe but thats
precisely what you have to do, or you
ULVNSXOOLQJ\RXUOXUHDZD\IURPVK
prematurely. Surface lures have a
habit of singling out the bigger bream
DOVRDQGZKLOHWKHVPDOOHUVKZLOO
keep attacking it, when a slab of a
black bream wants to rip it a new one
it wont mess around and they strike
to kill with spectacular hits.
For any bream lures, but especially
VRVXUIDFHRQHVEHVXUHWRWVWLFN\
Make sure you use sticky sharp trebles to them, and even
sharp trebles on surface drop the treble size down a touch to
lures to increase your increase your hook-up rate. Colours
hook-up rate dont seem to matter too much,
Natural coloured lures are
best in bright conditions
however for some reason there always
seems to be a standout lure each
session which can vary, so take a few
with you and mix it up. I always like
to have a clear pattern and a darker
QDWXUDOEDLWVKFRORXUHGSDWWHUQRQ
hand as a minimum.
In terms of soft plastics you can go
unweighted or lightly weighted as
mentioned, and this can be a great
RSWLRQIRUIXVV\VK<RXFDQVK
these slowly wound in across the
surface or you can let them sink if
you wish. A range of paddle tail and
curl tail plastics can be rigged for
WKLVVKLQJZLWKDQLQVHUWHGKHDG
type or a weedless worm hook used.
MODERN FISHING 23
MAJOR FEATURE: BREAM ON THE FLATS
LURE OPTIONS & OUTFITS
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Hooking into a shallow water screamer
on the ats is great light line sportshing
24 www.modernfishing.com.au
Bream pump holes
exposed on a low
tide, well worth
sussing later on!
DUHJHQHUDOO\OHVVGLVFHUQLQJLQ
GLVFRORXUHGZDWHU
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SLFNXSZHHGDQGPXGRQWKHDWVDQG
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VWULNH]RQHVRWKH\UHQRWDIURQWOLQH
RSWLRQEXWZLOOJHWHDWHQ<RXUEHVWEHW
LVWRULJWKHPXQZHLJKWHGDVGLVFXVVHG
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WKHEUDLQIRUDWVEUHDPDQG\RXU
VWRFNVWDQGDUGRXWWIRUWKHVHVK
ZLOOVHUYH\RXZHOO%HVXUHUHHOV
DUHOOHGULJKWXSZLWKEUDLGVR\RX
FDQJHWH[WUDYLWDOPHWUHVRQFDVWV
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A chunk of bream that RIIHULQJV7KH6KLPDQR1DVFL
ate a Sugapen off the top DQGD6KLPDQR,PSDFW1DQR;7KDG
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Standard curl tail plastics
can still be used in the
shallows, although keep
jighead weight down

MODERN FISHING 25
ACCESS ALL AREAS
At Kumho, youll get to admire the view in more places with a tyre designed to perform
in even the most extreme Australian conditions. And we do it all without compromising
comfort or safety. So take the road less travelled, knowing our commitment to quality
delivers you excellent value and a safer tomorrow.

And like a circle, it never ends. Well continue to look for new ways to make your
experience better. Its just what we do.

KUMHO TYRE. BETTER, ALL-WAYS.

Proudly
Supporting KUMHO.COM.AU
O.S.P LURES IMAKATSU LURES
FOR WHEN COMPROMISE THE ULTIMATE
IS NOT AN OPTION IN INNOVATION
Designed by legendary Japanese bass angler No lure on earth can quite compare to the nish and
Toshinari Namiki, O.S.P Lures have been hailed as one effectiveness of an Imakatsu. The brand prides itself in the
of Japans best lure designers and manufacturers. unique designs and superior actions, and the nish puts
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BENT MINNOW
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IS WASP
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To have a closer look at the range of O.S.P and Imakatsu lures, or to nd your nearest stockists, check out

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or email sales@sh-tecsolutions.com
MF80_06

Give us a follow at
28 www.modernfishing.com.au
 TIPS & TECHNIQUE

ROCK ON!
With Australias rugged coastline literally littered with
rocky headlands and ledges, land-based anglers are
spoiled for choice not only for location, but a variety of
species as well. The vast shing options cater for the
novice all the way to the seasoned experts,
making rock shing a super accessible, top
shelf shery for those who take the chance.
WORDS AND IMAGES BY SAMMY HITZKE

MODERN FISHING 29
TIPS & TECHNIQUE
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Bushy with a nice
little soapie on a
plastic in the wash
 Find me a more scenic spot than
sunrise on the stones, Ill wait.

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MODERN FISHING 31

Sometimes you just get wet!
Because its all spray there is
no power in the wave anymore,
doesnt make the icy cold
shower any better though!
GEARING UP!
Now the good news is, if youre already into
\RXUEHDFKVKLQJWKHFKDQFHVDUH\RXUH
already stocked with exactly the right kind
RIWRROV\RXOOQHHGWRVXFFHVVIXOO\VKWKH
rocks. The bad news is, if you dont, youre
going to have to make a trip to the tackle
shop. From the rocks, you still battle the
elements creating the need for rods in that
10-14 foot range. Not only does it keep your
line up above the crashing waves and away
from the edge of the rocks, it allows you to
FRQWUROOLIWDQGODQG\RXUVKDORWVDIHU
Very rarely will you see an experienced rock
angler sporting a short little boat rod, they
just dont work in this environment. After
that it comes down to your target species
and how you plan on chasing them. For the
EDLWVKRVDORQJPHGLXPWDSHUURGVKRXOG
32 www.modernfishing.com.au
Hows this for a uke!
This snapper ate a
metal slug on the drop!
allow a nice soft tip for bite indication, with
the strength depending on the size of the
bait and target species being chased. For the
lure guys, rods in that 10-12 foot class with
a lot faster taper make the ideal lure casting
rods. The faster taper aids in generating
a lot more lure speed through the cast, in
turn equalling long casts in all manner
of conditions. Once again rod strength is
dependent on the size/weight of the lure
being used and the species youre hoping
will eat it. Appropriately sized spinning
UHHOVZRUNQHIRUERWKVLWXDWLRQVRU\RX
can go old school and get yourself a bullet
proof Alvey, although they do make it a little
more tiresome for the spinners. Alveys are
GHQLWHO\PRUHUREXVWWKDQWKHVSLQQLQJ
reels, taking all the bumps, drops and
A stud Australian salmon
for Matty Duncan
drinks they get in their stride, whereas even
the most carefully looked after spinning
reel will eventually give in to the elements.
Theres no denying its quite harsh on gear
out there. Onto spooling, these days most
people tend to go straight to braid, but its
worth considering your target species before
making the call. To give you an example, I
UXQOEEUDLGRQDOOP\VSLQQLQJRXWWV
because it casts a lot better, has low stretch
and is super sensitive. My target species is
generally tailor and trevally and for most
RIWKHWLPHWKH\UHFOHDQJKWHUV2QP\
MHZRXWWRQWKHRWKHUKDQG,UXQVWUDLJKW
through 40lb mono because you dont have
to cast as far and jew have a tendency to run
around rocks making the added abrasion
resistance of the mono a big positive.

After that it starts to become a bit more
specialised. Most of the LBG guys use large
game reels and custom built rods to make
sure theyre prepared for anything that
takes their livey. If youre new to the scene
,ZRXOGGHQLWHO\VXJJHVWQGLQJ\RXU
feet either spinning or soaking some baits,
learning about the rocks before diving into
the deep end with the LBG guys. Or better
yet, befriend one of them and get them to
show you the ropes!
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Although rocks act like a giant FAD in the
middle of an otherwise baron stretch of
coastline there are a few distinct attributes that
really lend themselves to holding good quality
TIPS & TECHNIQUE
On calm days, sometimes
DQGTXDQWLWLHVRIVK%HLQJDEOHWRVSRWWKHVH you just have to sit back
via the use of google earth or out on the rocks and enjoy the serenity!
themselves will go a long way to ensuring
\RXUHWDUJHWLQJ\RXUHIIRUWVLQWKHVKLHVW
ORFDWLRQ,QP\H[SHULHQFHVVKOLIHUHTXLUHV
three main things; deep water, structure
and bait/food availability. Any combination
RIWKRVHWKUHHDQG\RXUHGHQLWHO\LQWKH
UXQQLQJPDQDJHWRQGRQHZLWKDOOWKUHHDQG
you have yourself a goldmine!
When deep water gets mentioned, the
ledge doesnt necessarily have to drop off
LQWRWKHDE\VVLQIDFWLQVRPHFDVHVVK
particularly for mulloway, drummer, bream
and tailor, will often feed in the shallower,
more wave affected areas. But the majority
of the time, what these areas will all have
in common is adjacent deeper gutters or
MODERN FISHING 33
TIPS & TECHNIQUE
channels leading into them, or patches of
deep sheltered water nearby to which they
have easy, unrestricted access. Predatory
VKZLOORIWHQXVHWKHVHGHHSHUVHFWLRQV
to seek shelter and travel through when
they are not in feeding mode and chasing
food in the shallows. The deeper sections
DOVRLQGLFDWHWKDWWKHUHVJRRGFXUUHQWRZ
through the area to scour out the sand.
,QWKHVKLQJZRUOGJRRGFXUUHQWVPHDQ
theres more opportunities for schools of bait
and other food sources to be syphoned past
the rocks which attracts more predators.
Moving onto structure and stereotypically
we automatically associate that with reef or
URFNWKDQNVWRWKHLQXHQFHRIRXURIIVKRUH
fraternity. When it comes to the rocks
however, thats not always the case. In fact,
whilst a good smattering of underwater
obstructions is nice to have, the best structure
one could hope for would be a nice big thick
There is no compromise for safety,
its a dangerous environment if its not
treated with the respect it deserves
34 www.modernfishing.com.au
wash zone rich in white-water and foam. To
DURFNVKHUPDQWKLVLVDOOWKH\QHHGWRJHW
WKHKHDUWXWWHULQJLQH[FLWHPHQW:KDWVWKH
crack? Well white-water and foam actually
provide the vast majority of shelter and
KDELWDWIRUPDQ\RIWKHVPDOOEDLWVKWKDWWKH
predators chase. The cause of that wash is
the result of wave action, which creates more
feeding opportunities for the non-predatory
species as well by washing bits of weed,
cunjevoi and crabs into the water. The whole
ecosystem of a rock ledge revolves around
the wash zones and its adjacent waters. The
ideal wash to target would consist of a thick
foam line backwashing out from the front
face of the ledge over some deeper water
or, even better again, a close by shallow
bommie that causes waves to break over it,
spilling foam over the back into a deep gutter
between the rock face and said bommie. The
latter of the two would have to be my all-time
favourite and can house anything from tailor,
jew, trevally, snapper, sharks and all manner
of smaller non-pelagic species. What you will
QGLQWLPHLVKRZGLIIHULQJVZHOOGLUHFWLRQV
and weather conditions dictate how the wash
zone will be created or in fact where the
white-water will end up.
Another one to keep an eye out for is bird
DFWLYLW\RUVKFKRSSLQJ*HQHUDOO\WKLVZLOO
happen in the wash zone or just behind it,
EXWDVLVRIWHQWKHFDVHEDLWVKXQGHUDWWDFN
will move around quite a bit to avoid getting
eaten, so can literally pop up anywhere
around a ledge. Bait schools are a great
indication that pelagics are in the area or if
they arent, theyre on the way. The resulting
pelagic activity will commonly attract the
attention of bottom dominate species like
bream, snapper, mulloway who become quite
active and take advantage of an easy feed.
Bait can really bring a quiet ledge to life.
Take the time to watch
the water before you
start shing

SAFETY
Now its time to really pay attention, because
this is the most important part of the article. In
WKHZURQJFRQGLWLRQVDQGZURQJDUHDVVKLQJ
the rocks can be a very dangerous affair. But,
by knowing what precautions to take and
what to look out for you can very much stack
the odds back in your favour.
First and foremost in the safety line-up is
wearing the correct attire out on the bricks.
I treat every session as one that will end
with me getting washed into the drink. As
DUHVXOW,RQO\VKLQFORWKLQJWKDW,FDQ
remove easily in the water (big front zipps)
or I can swim in. On a nice relatively dry
platform Ill wear board shorts and a shirt
with a hooded rain coat to keep me dry and
ZDUP,I,PVKLQJDVSRW,NQRZ,PJRLQJ
to get wet then Ill cut to the chase and just
were a wetsuit. When in doubt put what you
want to wear on and jump into a pool and
see how quickly you can get it off. If you
DUHXQOXFN\HQRXJKWRQG\RXUVHOILQWKH
water you want to be able to swim out, away
from the surf zone as quickly as possible
to avoid getting smashed back into the
rocks. There are also some pretty nifty and
FRPSDFWLQDWDEOHOLIHMDFNHWVDYDLODEOHWKDW
can be worn over the shoulders like a vest or
around the waist on a belt. These are a great
LGHDLI\RXUHQRWDFRQGHQWVZLPPHURU
just starting out on the rocks.
Footwear is a lot less complicated, get rock
spikes. There is no compromise for this one,
get yourself a pair or stay at home. Ive worn
This was a surprise
bycatch, a jewsh
on a popper!
crocs and volleys out on the rocks and they to knock you over, anything under that and
mark the only times Ive slipped over and been you should be good to go.
washed off my feet. Rock spikes are superior $WWKHHQGRIWKHGD\QRVKRUOXUHLVZRUWK
for grip for all rock types, even on the slippery \RXUOLIHVRLILWVWRRULVN\WRODQGDVKRUWU\
black moss that cause most rock falls. to unsnag your lure, snap them off. You will
$QRWKHUHVVHQWLDOLVWRVKLQSDLUVRU have plenty of other chances in the future.
small groups, pretty self-explanatory,
having people close by in case of emergency Thats a very brief insight into the art of rock
can easily be the difference between a rescue VKLQJ7KHUHLVQRFRPSURPLVHIRUVDIHW\LWV
mission and a recovery mission. If youre a dangerous environment if its not treated
by yourself no one will see you go in or with the respect it deserves. For those who are
know that youre in trouble until youre late willing to put the time into nutting out their
getting home. In pairs, if someone goes in local rock platforms it opens up a whole new
the second person can facilitate a rescue by ZRUOGRIVKLQJSRVVLELOLWLHVZLWKRXWHYHU
calling 000 and also keep eyes on their mate having to set foot in a boat. Enjoy yourself out
to make sure they are ok. On some rock there guys but please be safe!
ledges there are life rings for emergency
situations, in which case then would be the
perfect time to utilise them.
Lastly, once you arrive at your rock
ledge, picking the right spot to stand in the
differing conditions can go a long way to
ensure you have a safe and productive trip.
Standing back and watching the conditions
for a good 10-15 minutes before you start
VKLQJZLOOJLYH\RXDJRRGLGHDDVWRRZKLFK
way the swell is coming from, which areas
of the ledge are getting waves over them and
which are more protected. Its always advised
WRVKRQWKHUXQRXWWLGHDVZHOOWKDWZD\
you know the spot your standing will become
increasingly safer as the tide retracts. Any Invest in some
section of rock that takes waves over them rock spikes.
deeper than shin height will have the power End of discussion
MODERN FISHING 35
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TRAVEL: REMOTE RIVERS

40 www.modernfishing.com.au
CANOEING,
CAMPING,
AND COD
Andy McGovern details a few of the tips
and tricks hes learnt over the years doing
extended canoe trips for cod. Pack the bags
and grab the canoe, its time to head bush!
WORDS AND IMAGES BY ANDREW MCGOVERN
MODERN FISHING 41
TRAVEL: REMOTE RIVERS
The solitude and serenity of canoeing
here is a special something either bass or cod. Both species have

T
that is both invigorating and
refreshing about canoeing a
remote river. Regardless of
ZKHWKHU\RXUQQHGIRHDUH
bass, barra, toga, trout, perch
RUWKHPDMHVWLFJUHHQVK
the wilderness, solitude, and serenity
combine to make each and every trip
memorable. When you add the charm
of a basic bush camping location, the
anticipation and excitement levels
explode off the dial, as you know that
every waking opportunity will present
WKHPVHOYHVWR\RXDQG\RXUVKLQJ
mate. The majority of my canoeing
and camping trips over the past three
or four decades have been targeting
PADDLE POWER VS
and camping a remote river has a raft of
a cult following and at times it is appealing factors for inland native shers
GLIFXOWWRVSOLWWKHWZR7KHVKHHU
size and imposing power of Murray
cod attract all manner of angler and
when your skills are pitted against
an opponent that has been on this
earth almost as long as you have, the
appeal is almost overwhelming. I
KDYHKDGPDQ\DVROLGVKWUHDWPH
with contempt and demonstrate their
unsurpassed, raw pulling power by
towing the canoe straight into its
snag with heartbreaking results. That
scenario, along with a gambit of other
wonderful experiences, coupled with
the uniqueness of the Australian
bush are all part of the canoeing and
camping experience when targeting the
DSH[SUHGDWRURIRXUZHVWHUQRZLQJ
river systems.

ELECTRIC MOTOR
To some anglers the appeal of long
range, canoeing and camping trips
is the physical exertion in paddling
Possibly the biggest challenge facing
the length and breadth of the river
which translates to truly earning
your captures. The reward is that
cod shers planning an overnighter on a
you feel an even further enhanced
sense of achievement when you nail
some sh. It is not simply making
river is how much gear to take
countless numbers of casts but
that you were physically invested in Hopping soft vibes down deep
the entire operation. Not everyone is a productive way to prospect
is cut from the same cloth and the bottom. Just dont expect
many will look for the easy option. every sh to be a monster. Here
These are generally your shing Andrew displays a small cod
mates who allow you to do all the before release
organising and simply turn up with
their own shing tackle.
I have to admit on single night
adventures I always load my
Watersnake electric and deep
cycle battery into the back of the
truck. The electric motor provides a
number of advantages than paddling.
The biggest advantage from my
experience is the ability to work the
tail end of pools in fast running water.
A number of locations we sh have no
shore based access and can only be
shed from a canoe. Under normal
water conditions the water ows so
fast that you need to point the nose of
the canoe head rst into the current
and crank the electric up to full speed
just to hold position. It is impossible
to take your hand off the tiller so
the angler at the front of the canoe
makes all the casts at bank side
boulders and mid-stream islands
while the back angler is holding the
canoe in position.
My young bloke and I have
undertaken this practice numerous
times and Mitch has nailed a nice
tally of quality cod on both surface
and sub-surface lures. Next trip I
need to ensure he jumps into the
back of the canoe so I get a shot at
the title! Not all canoes are set up to
take an electric motor, however with
the addition of a motor mount (RRP
around $150 to $200 pending model)
most canoes can be quickly adapted.

42 www.modernfishing.com.au

TRAVEL TIME VS FISHING TIME
A key component of a camping and
FDQRHLQJVKLQJWULSLVSODQQLQJ\RXU
VKLQJWLPHLQFRQMXQFWLRQZLWK\RXU
WUDYHOWLPH,I\RXDUHRQO\FRYHULQJD
VPDOOVHFWLRQRIZDWHUVD\DNLORPHWUH
GLVFLSOLQHWRHQVXUH\RXVWLFNZLWK
\RXUSODQQHGVFKHGXOH,WLVDQHOLQH
EHWZHHQUHPDLQLQJH[LEOHLQ\RXU
DSSURDFKDQGEHLQJVWURQJHQRXJKWR
OHDYHJRRGVK\ORRNLQJZDWHUWRPRYH
Andrew with a chunky 93cm
greensh that was feeding in
this dense weed bed
TRAVEL LIGHT
Regardless of what time of year you
plan on undertaking your canoeing
adventure, ensure you wear light,
warm clothing. Jeans, woolen
jumpers and heavy rain coats
RUWZRWKHQ\RXZLOOKDYHVXIFLHQW
WLPHWRZRUNDOOWKHDUHDV\RXSDVV
WKURXJKWKRURXJKO\+RZHYHULI
\RXDUHZRUNLQJRQDPXOWLGD\WULS
FRYHULQJDQXPEHURINLORPHWUHVRI
ZDWHUWKHQ\RXQHHGWRIDFWRULQWUDYHO
WLPH7KLVZLOOPHDQWKHUHZLOOEH
VHFWLRQVRIZDWHU\RXZLOOQHHGWRE\
SDVVZLWKRXWVKLQJRUDWWKHYHU\
OHDVWSURVSHFWTXLFNO\ZLWKDKDQGIXO
RIVWUDWHJLFDOO\SODFHGFDVWV:KHQZH
NQRZZHQHHGWRFRYHUDIDLUDPRXQW
RIZDWHUXUJHQWO\WRVWD\ZLWKLQRXUVHW
VFKHGXOHZHZLOOKDYHWZRVSLQQHUEDLW
RXWWVULJJHG$VZHSRZHUWKURXJK
DQ\OLNHO\ORRNLQJZDWHUDQGLGHQWLI\
DNH\IHDWXUHRUWZRZHZLOOSXQFK
HLJKWWRWHQFDVWVHDFKLQDWWKDWIHDWXUH
EHIRUHPRYLQJRQ7KLVVRUWRIVKLQJ
DGYHQWXUHZLOOUHTXLUHDQHOHPHQWRI
RQ,I\RXGRKDSSHQWRVWXPEOHDFURVV
DKLJKO\DWWUDFWLYHDUHDDQG\RXRSWWR
ZRUNWKHDUHDIRUDIHZKRXUVWKHQ\RX
QHHGWREHFRQVFLRXVRIWKHIDFWWKDW
\RXZLOOQHHGWRPDNHXSWLPHIXUWKHU
LQWRWKHWULS,QPDQ\FDVHVWKLVZLOO
PHDQ\RXPLVVWKHRSSRUWXQLW\WRVK
SODQQHGDUHDV
2QWKHEXONRIRXUWULSVZH
XQGHUWDNHWKHPDMRULW\RIORQJKDXOV
RQWKHSDGGOHRUZLWKWKHHOHFWULF
PRWRUWLFNLQJRYHUGXULQJWKHPLGGOH
SDUWVRIWKHGD\)URPDPWRSP
WHQGWREHWKHTXLHWHVWWLPHRIWKH
GD\LQUHJDUGVWRJUHHQVKDFWLRQVR
WKLVLVZKHQZHFRYHUDVPXFKZDWHU
DVSRVVLEOH7KLVPHDQVZHDUHLQ
SRVLWLRQWRVKSULPHVWUXFWXUHDQG
VHFWLRQVRIZDWHUIURPODWHDIWHUQRRQ
DQGZHOOLQWRWKHQLJKW
should be left at home as even Ian
Thorpe would struggle to swim any
distance with heavy, water logged
clothing weighing him down. Light,
thin thermal under layers will get
you through cold nights, and those
chilly early morning starts. Then
apply the simple layering system
with a 100 or 200 polar eece,
followed by a high quality wind
and rainproof shell style jacket.
Boots are also to be avoided with
purpose designed boating sandals
the best choice. Grip on sandals is
important when portaging through
slippery rocks and boulders so
check the souls of the sandals
before purchase. We do carry boots
in the canoe with us so when we
opt to get out and walk the edges
we have sturdy ankle support and
rm grip combined with sensible
protection for the souls of our feet.
MODERN FISHING 43
TRAVEL: REMOTE RIVERS
HIDDEN GEMS
There are almost endless
opportunities that will be present
WKHPVHOYHVWRVKHUVZRUNLQJWKHLU
chosen waterway in a canoe. Islands,
WKHEDVHRIFOLIIIDFHVDQGGLIFXOWWR
access land based points, will allow
PRELOHVKHUVWKHFKDQFHWRZRUN
hidden structure that may be missed
E\RWKHUDQJOHUV,QDGGLWLRQWR
RSHQLQJXSWKHVHOLWWOHKLGGHQJHPV
VXFKDUHDVFDQEHHIIHFWLYHO\VKHG
from both canoe and land. Once
\RXKDYHORFDWHGDVSHFLFIHDWXUHRU
section of water, use your canoe to
alter the retrieval path of your lure
WRHQVXUH\RXUKDYHZRUNHG\RXU
presentation at every conceivable
DQJOHDFURVVDQGRYHUWKHDUHD7KLV
SURFHVVZLOOJXDUDQWHHWKDWDQ\JUHHQ
VKKROGLQJKHUHZLOOKDYHVHHQ
\RXUOXUH7KHWZRIROGEHQHWRI
numerous, repeated casts in a small
YLFLQLW\PD\DVVLVWLQJHQHUDWLQJDQ
DJJUHVVLYHVWULNHIURPWKHVHDSH[
SUHGDWRUV:KHQ\RXDUHFRQGHQW
I have had many a solid sh treat me with contempt
and demonstrate their unsurpassed, raw pulling
power by towing the canoe straight into its snag
Carrying a small selection
of surface lures will provide
plenty of action during low
light conditions
44 www.modernfishing.com.au
\RXKDYHZRUNHGWKHDUHDWKRURXJKO\
IURPWKHFDQRHORRNIRUODQGEDVHG
options to prospect the same water. A
VLJQLFDQWRYHUVLJKWE\PDQ\QDWLYH
DQJOHUVLVWKDWRQFHWKH\IHHOWKH\
KDYHZRUNHGDQDUHDIURPWKHFDQRH
meticulously they simply move on to
WKHQH[WVK\ORRNLQJSLHFHRIZDWHU
On more occasions I can remember
ZHKDYHZRUNHGRYHUDQDUHDIURP
WKHFDQRHIRUQRWHYHQDVWULNHRQO\
WRMXPSRQWRWKHODQGDQGQDLODVK
within half a dozen retrieves. I am
FRQYLQFHGWKDWWKHFKDQJHLQWKH
retrieval path in conjunction with the
IDFWZHDUHZRUNLQJRXUOXUHVULJKWWR
WKHYHU\HGJHLVZK\ZHJHQHUDWHWKDW
DOOLPSRUWDQWVWULNH
6LQNLQJOXUHVRUGHHSGLYLQJ
PLQQRZVDUHH[FHOOHQWFKRLFHVLQ
such situations and will ensure you
cover all levels of the water column.
Remember to vary your speed of each
UHWULHYHLPSDUWLQJSOHQW\RISDXVHV
and short bursts of speed. Overall it
LVFULWLFDOWRNHHS\RXUUHWULHYDOVSHHG
GRZQDVFRGDUHQRWRULRXVO\OD]\VK
DQGWHQGQRWWRH[HUWWRRPXFKHQHUJ\
FKDVLQJGRZQDSURVSHFWLYHPHDO
TACKLE BOX
For our extended overnight trips
we always take two outts each. A
baitcasting set up loaded with 20lb
braid and a threadline outt with
14lb braid. These two outts will
cover all lure scenarios on the river.
We also carry a spare travel rod in
the bottom of the canoe in case of a
broken tip or smashed mid-section.
I carry a limited selection (8-10
lures) of each lure genre surface,
spinnerbaits, soft vibes, and diving
hard bodied minnows. A mix of
colours and styles within each
lure category will ensure you have
something for every situation. A
small tool kit and some reel oil is
also advantageous in case a reel
gets sub-merged and you need to
pull it apart to drain excess water.
 Andrew nailed this 77cm
green grenade off the
surface pre-dawn

MODERN FISHING 45
 CAMP GEAR
Possibly the biggest challenge
facing cod shers planning an
overnighter on a river is how much
gear to take. In addition to shing
tackle, you will need to allow for
your camping kit (consisting of
sleeping bag, mattress, and tent or
y), cooking equipment (gas cooker,
fry pan, utensils, mugs, and plates),
food, and safety equipment. Be it
an overnight or multiple night trip
a swag is not a viable option as they
simply take up too much valuable
room in your canoe. Lightweight
tents and sleeping bags are readily
available from any camping store
and take up minimal room. Coupled
with a compact airbed or foam
mattress, (I opt for those small
self inating beds rather than the
more bulky foam roll ups) these
three items can be easily stored in
mid-sized dry bags at the bottom of
the canoe.

The reward for several days

traversing the river. Mitch
McGovern with his big 104cm
cod taken off the surface

46 www.modernfishing.com.au

PREPARING
YOUR CANOE
2YHUWKHWZHQW\YHRGG\HDUVZH
KDYHEHHQXQGHUWDNLQJFDQRHLQJ
DGYHQWXUHV\RXWHQGWRSLFNXS
VRPHWULFNVDQGWLSVWKDWPDNH\RXU
H[SHULHQFHPRUHSOHDVDQWDQGPRUH
LPSRUWDQWO\PRUHHIIHFWLYH2QH
LVVXHWKDW\RXZLOOFRQVWDQWO\EHIDFHG
ZLWKZKHQVKLQJIDVWUXQQLQJZDWHU
LQULYHUVLVPDLQWDLQLQJ\RXUVWDWLF
SRVLWLRQORQJHQRXJKWRFRPSOHWHDQ
HIIHFWLYHFDVWDQGUHWULHYH7KHUHDUH
VHYHUDOQHJDWLYHDIIHFWVZKHQ\RXU
FDQRHLVGUDJJHGGRZQVWUHDP0RVW
REYLRXVLVZKHQXVLQJVLQNLQJ
SUHVHQWDWLRQVDQGDWWHPSWLQJWRZRUN
GHHSSRFNHWVRIZDWHU\RXQHHGWR
DOORZ\RXOXUHWRVLQN%HLQJGUDJJHG
E\FXUUHQWZLOONHHS\RXUOXUHKLJKLQ
WKHZDWHUFROXPQUHVXOWLQJLQDIDUOHVV
HIIHFWLYHSUHVHQWDWLRQ
7KHRWKHULVVXHZKHQEHLQJGUDJJHG
E\WKHFXUUHQWLVWKDW\RXUUHWULHYDO
UDWHZLOOEHDUWLFLDOO\LQFUHDVHGE\
WKHPRYLQJFDQRHPHDQLQJDUHWULHYH
WKDWLVWRRIDVWIRUWKRVHRIWHQOD]\
JUHHQVK7RPLWLJDWHWKLVHYHU
SUHVHQWLVVXHRIFDQRHGUDJZHFDUU\D
NLORJUDPZHLJKWFRQQHFWHGWRDWHQ
TRAVEL: REMOTE RIVERS
Golden perch are
a welcome by-catch
when chasing cod
You can be guaranteed that the effort to
organise and execute such a trip will be
rewarded with some spectacular shing
SAFETY
PREPARATION
If your trip takes you to remote
locations then it pays to carry a
Personal Location Beacon (PLB),
particularly if the area has limited
or only partial mobile service. If
in areas with good connectivity, a
PLB will literally be a savior in the
event your mobile loses charge or
is water damaged during the trip.
A small compact rst aid kit is also
mandatory on overnight trips. It also
goes without saying but it is vital
you let a family member or close
friend know the exact area your will
be shing, where you intend to start,
and where you intend to extract,
as well as the duration of your
journey. Check the weather forecast A landing glove will reduce skin
as being on the river during wild loss when lip gripping a big cod.
thunderstorms is both dangerous This cracking greensh was taken
and fool hardy. off the surface mid-morning
MODERN FISHING 47
TRAVEL: REMOTE RIVERS
WRIWHHQPHWUHOHQJWKRIURSH2QFH
ZHKDYHSRVLWLRQHGWKHFDQRHLQSULPH
FDVWLQJZDWHUWKHZHLJKWLVTXLHWO\
ORZHUHGRYHUWKHVLGHWRKROGERWWRP
DOORZLQJXVWRKROGSRVLWLRQ2QFHZH
KDYHZRUNHGRYHUWKHDUHDWKRURXJKO\
LWLVVLPSO\DPDWWHURIUHWULHYLQJWKH
ZHLJKWDQGPRYLQJRQ:HKDYH
IRXQGWKHZHLJKWWREHIDUPRUHXVHU
IULHQGO\DQGFKHDSHUWKDQDSXUSRVH
GHVLJQHGDQFKRUWKDWZLOORIWHQIRXOXS
RQWKHERWWRPDVZHOODVEHLQJIDUPRUH
H[SHQVLYH7KHZHLJKWLVDOVRVLPSOHU
WRVWRZDWWKHERWWRPRIWKHFDQRHDQG
FDQEHHDVLO\VOLGXQGHUWKHVHDWRXWRI
WKHZD\7KHRWKHUWLSZKHQFDQRHLQJ
LVWRFDUU\DODUJHVSRQJHVLPLODUWR
RQH\RXZRXOGXVHZKHQZDVKLQJWKH
PLAN FOR
THE WORST
No matter how attuned you may
think you are to your canoe and how
good your balance is, there is a very
good chance at some point you will
nish up in the drink. Negotiating
rapids, swollen river edges, shifting
currents, coupled with the inevitable
portage through varying depths of
water, will mean you will get wet at
some stage in your adventure. This
means getting water in the bottom
of the canoe and the last thing you
want is your sleeping and camping
equipment getting wet. Large dry
bags or purpose designed, fully
sealable barrels are ideal. Look
for the barrels with a screw top
lid, which are generally made
from durable, tough plastic. The
bonus with these barrels or large
FDULQWKHEDFNRIWKHFDQRH7KLVLV buckets is that they also oat, so
in the event of a full capsizing your Preparation is the key prior to
DIDVWHDV\ZD\WRUHPRYHDQ\H[FHVV launching on your adventure.
camping gear can be quickly found
ZDWHUO\LQJLQWKHERWWRPRIWKHFDQRH oating down stream, and not at the Discussing tactics and lure
WKDWKDVEHHQLQDGYHUWHQWO\ERXJKWLQ bottom of the river bed. selections is an integral part of
IURPZDWHUORJJHGVKRHVRUVDQGDOVRU successful native shing
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H[SHULHQFH\RXQHYHUIRUJHW

Prole of a lovely
river cod taken from
the ooded margins

At different times portaging will be

required to move between pools. Finding
shallow rapids to drag the canoe over is
not always as straight forward as this

48 www.modernfishing.com.au
 BY

GOOD TO GO
Introducing Malamoo Journey, by Oztent. With its built in fly there really is nothing to do except release
the tent from its pack and peg it out. Add a sleeping mat and bag, and youre good to go.
Find out more about the range at:
www.oztent.com

TM
 Keen to put your tackle to the test?
John Boon reckons black jewsh are
just the sh to do it and offers some
hot tips on how to catch them
WORDS AND IMAGES BY JOHN BOON

50 www.modernfishing.com.au
SPECIES SPOTLIGHT

MODERN FISHING 51
SPECIES SPOTLIGHT
ave you ever been out on
H
the briny and had your
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You just stand there in
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Google Earth is a great tool for sussing out
potential jewsh locations
52
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in the estuaries on the other hand
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Coby and uncle Leith Pascoe
with a cracker black jew
This big jewie was taken on a
Berkley Gulp Squid Vicious.
They can be successfully
targeted both during night
time and daylight hours
This Google Earth shot
shows Corio Bay which
is about 20km north
of Yeppoon. The most
interesting part is the
eastern headlands.
BAITS
Mulloway in the south can be a very
These headlands tricky customer. Ive had multiple
have produced conversations with friends that
some amazing
black jew shing WDUJHWWKHVHVKDURXQGSRSXODWHG
areas. They will spend almost equal
time targeting fresh baits like squid
as they do to actually chasing the
VK,I\RXGRQWKDYHWKHIUHVKHVW
bait possible then your chances of
success is severely reduced. With
black jew in northern waters they are
completely the opposite. We have had
just as much luck with good old servo
pilchards and squid as we have had
with freshly caught bait. The biggest
difference between frozen and fresh
bait is timing. When the conditions
arent favourable, thats when you
want to be making the effort to chase
things like tiger and arrow squid, live
yakkas (yellow tailed scad) and fresh
cut baits like mac tuna.
We have had times when we didnt
have any fresh baits on board. The
sounder was loaded with jewies and
all we were turning was donuts. We
were unable to obtain fresh baits and
our results showed. Other times we
have dropped good old fashioned
frozen pilchards and squid down and
come up trumps. After all black jew are
scavengers of the sea.
GEARING UP
What gear to run for chasing black
jew will vary from angler to angler.
Im a big believer in matching your
JHDUWRWKHWHUUDLQ\RXUHVKLQJ,I
\RXUHRXWRQWKHDWUXEEOHJURXQG
without much structure around then
you can afford to run some lighter
gear. 20lb spin gear will cover this
sort of situation nicely. If youre
chasing them on some prickly reef or
some harsh rocks along a headland
then I would step that up to a 50lb
setup. If youre locking horns with
them on coastal wrecks then the need
for either an 80lb rod and reel setup
or 100lb handline would be the way
to go. No matter what reel you go for,
make sure its of substantial quality.
The biggest attribute your looking for
is a nice smooth drag. Black jew will
QGZHDNQHVVLQDQ\SDUWRI\RXUJHDU
so it pays to spend a few extra dollars
to get your hands on some quality.
We have had big trouble with them
on inshore wrecks. Repeatedly getting
blown away wears thin very quickly.
Big drag pressure and a keen hand on
the throttle to drive them away from
danger can be an advantage to the
angler. They wouldnt be the quickest
VKLQWKHVHDEXWWKH\KDYHEUXWH
strength and low down torque. When
MODERN FISHING 53
SPECIES SPOTLIGHT
you think you have them to safety
and they turn around and burn a
tight drag some 15 metres back to the
bottom, busting you off leaving you
mesmerised, you know you have met
your match.
Rig setups are fairly standard
IDQIDLUIRUDOO\RXUUHHIVKLQJ
Paternoster setups are an easy to rig
choice but my recommendation is to
only run one loop. If you use two then
hooking two big jew at the same time
will only end in disaster. The running
ball sinker setup is another easy to rig
RSWLRQWKDWVHTXDOO\HIIHFWLYH
ARTIFICIAL OPTIONS
There is a large selection of lures and
soft plastics we have had success
with. The most reliable go to
plastics for us is the Berkley Gulp
range. Im a massive believer in the
special sauce that those plastics are
infused with. Some of them like the
6TXLG9LFLRXVDQG1HPHVLVQHHG
Jewies love a bit of run, and can often be found
holding up in deeper holes around headlands, on
reef systems and behind bommies and wrecks
54 www.modernfishing.com.au
very little movement to get results.
We have proved this by rigging
these plastics, dropping them to the
bottom and putting the rod in the
rod holder. The gentle rocking of
the boat and the scent is enough to
provoke a response. Gulps like the
-HUN6KDGUDQJHGHQLWHO\UHTXLUHD
ORWPRUHDFWLRQWRJHWWKHIXOOEHQHW
There are no curly legs or curl tail to
make the action so it needs to come
from the angler. How you work that
rod tip is totally up to the user. The
process of elimination will reveal
what retrieve will work on the day.
Keeping a close eye on what gets
the reaction is very important. Once
a pattern has been cracked, the
UHZDUGVZLOORZ
Big vibration style lures have also
worked well. Vibes such as the 96mm
Sebile Flat Shad and 150mm Quick
catch. Working the bottom 5 metres
of water varying retrieves has paid
RIIIRUXVLQWKHSDVW:KHQ\RXUVW
drop a Sebile Flat Shad, you will
Squid Vicious down the hatch
understand why the jewies smash
them. They make one hell of a racket.
I believe they drive them mad, and
hit them out of frustration most of
the time.
Other lures and soft plastics which
have worked really well are the 9 inch
Z-Man GrubZ, Ballista Juggernaut
ZLWKWKHDVKLQJ/('WHFKQRORJ\
and the Smash Crab from River2Sea.
A large majority of the time we are
chasing jewies at night so it only
seemed logical to give the Ballista
DVKLQJ/('WHFKQRORJ\DWU\:H
had good results almost straight away
so into the reliable basket they went.
The drive to try the Smash Crab
FDPHIURPUHSHDWHGO\QGLQJWKUHH
spot crabs in the stomach contents.
We were waiting for the release of
these for a fair while. There wasnt
another crab on the market that was
DEOHWREHVKHGLQWKHGHHSHUZDWHU
ZLWKWKHUHTXLUHGKDUGZDUH7KH
Smash Crab ticked these boxes and
has been doing really well.
You can see the paternoster
descending and the jew rising
to look at the baits. Such a
cool screen shot

BAROTRAUMA
& DINNER PLATE
CREDIBILITY
Black jew are one of the most
prolific species that gets affected
severely from barotrauma.
Anything deeper then 10 metres and
these fish dont release well. Studies
have shown that even though
the fish may swim off, they will
later die because of the effects of
barotrauma. The best thing you can
do is only take what you need and
then move on to chase something
else. Hanging around for sport will
not do them any good unless you
are lucky enough to find them along
the headlands in shallow water.
So once you have bled and iced
your jewies, whats the best way to
VHUYHWKHPXS"7KHELJJHUVKLQ
my opinion (1m+) arent that great
cooked in a conventional way. The
smaller models in the 75-100cm
bracket are pretty good if eaten fresh
and just rolled in egg and bread
crumbs. The bigger fellas do make
JUHDWFXUULHVDQGVKFDNHVEHFDXVH
RIWKHLUUPHVKDQGWKDWZRXOGEH
my recommendation.
RIVER MONSTERS
& GOOGLE EARTH
Here on the Capricorn Coast we
have a number of deep creeks that
black jew call home. Cawarral
Creek just outside of Emu Park, the
Fitzroy River that runs through
Rockhampton and the Port Alma area
are the three main areas big black jew
DUHWDUJHWHGZLWKFRQGHQFH
I was lucky enough to stumble
across a deep hole up at a local
hotspot called Devils Elbow in
the Fitzroy River which is on the
outskirts of the Rockhamptons
CBD. We were vertical jigging 4 and
5 inch Gulp soft plastics with 20lb
bait casting gear. In among some
metre plus king salmon we hooked
on to a monster river jewie which
PHDVXUHGLQDWP7KLVVKZDV
caught approximately 40km from
the mouth so they will travel a long
way up an estuary if the conditions
Coby and Leith with
another beast black jew
are right. These sorts of captures are
common at different times of the
year. They are starting to become
even more common recently with
the introduction of the NFZ (net free
zone) for our area.
Google Earth is a great tool for
VXVVLQJRXWSRWHQWLDOMHZVKORFDWLRQV
I have spent many hours searching
around inside that program. Finding
rock bars is what I have put a fair
amount of time into. Just looking
around your area on low tide can
reveal things that you didnt even
know existed. It can also help if
ORRNLQJWRVKDQHZDUHD,WZLOOVKRZ
you some areas of interest so youre
not heading in blind.
Theres a photo that shows a
section of a Port Alma creek taken
on low tide. You can see the rocks
exposed on both sides of the creek.
A sure bet that its a full length rock
EDU-XVWE\QGLQJWKLVDUHD\RX
already have one spot to check out.
Once youve located the rock bar
with your sounder (hopefully not
with your prop), you can invest a fair
bit of time searching around looking
IRUEDLWFRQJUHJDWLRQVRUDFWLYHVK
MODERN FISHING 55
SPECIES SPOTLIGHT
WHEN TO
TARGET THEM
Black jew are best targeted during
winter but can be caught all year
round. Some of our better sessions
have come from that peak shark
period of January to March but as
an average, the cooler months are
far better.
If you can, time your trip to
coincide with a few days either side of
the full moon then youre on a winner
as well. We have still caught them on
smaller tides in the same areas but
the full moon is far superior followed
by the new moon period.
Jewies love a bit of run, and can
often be found holding up in deeper
holes around headlands, on reef
systems and behind bommies and
wrecks. On the smaller tides is when
WKH\FDQEHIRXQGRQWKHDWUXEEOH
patches holding bait.
Black jewsh are responsible for making even
the most seasoned sher look inferior at times
56 www.modernfishing.com.au
KEEPING RECORDS
Its been said a thousand times
Grunter aka javelin sh are
also another species that
hang in numbers with black
before, but recording the trips most
important information is critical in
jew. A tasty bycatch
becoming a better angler. The small
factors that make the difference
on one trip can be easily forgotten.
After all, youre spending the time
and money to go and chase a dream
so why not put yourself in the best
position for success.
I dont know about you but I
have three young kids at home so
WKHDPRXQWRIVKLQJWLPH,JHWLV
minimal. Every time I hit the water
Im looking to make the most of
it. Identifying and recording key
factors no matter how subtle they
are only helps to put pieces of the
puzzle together. Not everyone wants
to go that far in depth but the law of
averages states that the more effort
you put in, the better your chances
of greatness will be.
Liam Pascoe is well known
for trying things out of the
ordinary when standard
practices arent working
HYDRATE STA15970
58 www.modernfishing.com.au
 TIPS & TECHNIQUE

Sammy Hitzke outlines a

new lure to hit the Aussie
market and explains why
you need a few in the
top of your tackle box.
Square bill Minnows
are taking the native
scene by storm
WORDS AND IMAGES BY SAMMY HITZKE

MODERN FISHING 59
TIPS & TECHNIQUE
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KDGVDLGWKHVHOXUHVGHQLHGWKHHYLOIRUFHVRIVQDJV\HW
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WLPHDQGWLPHDJDLQ<RXKDGPHDWZHGJHG:DVQW,LQ Bass are suckers for
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VSLQQHUEDLWVVWDVKHGDZD\LQWKHVKHGJDWKHULQJGXVW into heavy structure.
,WDOZD\VDVWRXQGVPHZKHQDVW\OHRIOXUHLVVRHIIHFWLYH This one ate a Molix
SB Crank
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EXWVWLOOLVQWDSRSXODUFKRLFHDPRQJDQJOHUV,GRQWNQRZ
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They are simply too versatile,
PDNHLWRQWRWKHVKHOYHVRIRXU$XVVLHWDFNOHVKRSV%XW
IHDUQRWWKHUHLVVWLOOHQRXJKRIDVHOHFWLRQDYDLODEOHDWWKH
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too snag-proof and
RIWKHVTXDUHELOOPLQQRZVDQGVHHZK\WKH\GHVHUYHSROH
SRVLWLRQLQ\RXUWDFNOHER[ too edible to disappoint!
Fishing from a kayak, sqaure-bills
are your one-stop sh catching
workhorse for all types of structure!

60 www.modernfishing.com.au
 Sammy reckons this was the
hardest hitting bass he has ever
encountered. This one was hell-
bent on burying him in a log jam

MODERN FISHING 61
TIPS & TECHNIQUE
Sqaure-bills are a great
lure for all anglers,
simple to use, but
effective on the sh!

62 www.modernfishing.com.au
 In the clearer water, more
natural colours like gold, silver
and clears work a treat!

Lets just say I now have a box of spinnerbaits

stashed away in the shed gathering dust!
HOW DO THEY WORK?
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MODERN FISHING 63
TIPS & TECHNIQUE

HOW TO FISH THEM?

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Square bills really are
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a very versatile lure,
MODE OF DELIVERY?
and due to the areas
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64 www.modernfishing.com.au
 Sammys very rst
Murray cod was taken on
a square bill minnow so
you can understand his
enthusiasm for them

MODERN FISHING 65
TIPS & TECHNIQUE

WHATS ON THE HIT LIST?

Square bills really are a very versatile lure, and due to the
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appeal to a wide variety of predatory native species. On
top of that the variety of sizes in which they are made also
allows anglers to downsize or upsize depending on the bait
they are trying to match, and species they are targeting.
On the larger sized minnows, the main quarry is large
impoundment barramundi as well as big Murray cod. Last
year it was quite interesting to see that when the surface
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a select few switched-on anglers seemed to still produce
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know, but at the end of the day it worked!
Stepping down into the mid-sized lures and your likely
to bring upon the undoing of your smaller creek and river
cod, large bass, yellow belly and the odd saratoga on the
shallower running models. For some reason, trophy wild
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which are prevalent in many of the river systems. Interesting
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one, although a lot of the time they are in entirely different
styles of structure.
Finally ending up with the smaller models left and well
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enticing little wiggle will happily entice even the most shut
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a square bill or two kicking around in it then I suggest you
make a drive to your nearest tackle store and see what you
FDQOD\\RXUKDQGVRQ7KH\DUHVLPSO\WRRYHUVDWLOHWRR Another Aussie native
snag-proof and too edible to disappoint! As always guys, stay taking a liking to a red
safe out there, and remember to have fun! Damiki Brute

An early morning cod

snafed this square-bill
slow rolled Damiki Brute
in a large deep pool

66 www.modernfishing.com.au
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CHARTER FISHING
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This is why you pay the

money! Monster king

Loaded and ready to sh on

a long range charter in NZ!

Long range motherships trips arent

cheap but the shing can be mind blowing

68 www.modernfishing.com.au
 A productive day out for a
group on a bottom bashing
charter off South Australia
ENJOYMENT FACTOR
A decent level of comfort is to be expected on
your charter, after all much of the reason you
book a charter is so you dont have to concern
yourself with the hassle of looking after boats,
gear, and even preparing food, and you should be
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pressure down.
Again be sure to research exactly what is
provided in the way of food, drinks and even
bedding on your trip, to ensure it doesnt turn
into a nightmare. I remember one charter out of
the NT we did over 3 days that didnt provide soft
drink or alcohol, and we came back looking like
dehydrated prunes after sucking on desalination
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print. Basically assume nothing!
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charters you couldnt fault the blokes on board,
and youll likely make great new friends from the
trip, Ive had trips that were just booze cruises for
the other blokes, and people were throwing up
and falling over breaking rods by the end of the
day. Unfortunately drug use can also be an issue,
although not tolerated by most skippers. And
without risk of offending, angling experience will
vary greatly as well.
Id highly recommend putting a bunch of
your mates on the boat to boost the enjoyment
factor up, but thankfully most guys on charter
are likeminded and youll likely click with them
instantly, but exceptions do happen.
If youre seriously results driven on your trip Id
recommend booking the boat yourself and limited
the number of other anglers on board to maximise
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Your rst tuna is
even large snapper are a few that spring to mind
always a buzz
where you may want to consider this. More lines
in the water and more anglers does mean less
opportunity. Of course this is a luxury and youll
need to pay the extra dollars to compensate.
Certain charters are like cattle trucks though and
theyll look to load them up with people, while
others will limit numbers to sensible amounts.
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youre not the best sea traveller then take seasick
A oat plane used to reach the
tablets with you, as theres nothing worse
mothership on a remote Coral Sea
than shelling out your hard-earned only to be charter with Nomad
hunched over the rails hurling chunks all day.
Ive seen it happen so often. Moreover, dont treat
your day on the water as a massive piss up as
again this usually results in green faces and a
mixed experience (putting it politely).
Take some of your own gear with you to make
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lures and rigs Ive prepared myself. Theres no
one else to blame if something does stuff up
then! This said, most charters do cater for the
guy that doesnt own his own tackle and its
best to listen closely to any recommendations
they may have. Ive been forced to use Alvey
winches on charter before after chancing it and
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was about as exciting as pulling the anchor up.
Again, ask the operation if in doubt.
Book in advance if you can to secure prime
tides and times during the season, and really
think it through, and youll get maximum bang
IRU\RXUFKDUWHUVKLQJEXFNDQGKRSHIXOO\WDNH Hard working skippers get
DZD\OLIHORQJVKLQJPHPRULHV the rewards for clients
MODERN FISHING 69
 Ultra-soft rods can really
increase your chances

TECH TIPS of connecting to

small bread and
butter species

the MF Team

Gone are the days of

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over the top reels. DFKLHYDEOHRQWKHVLOO\VWULQJ7KDWGRHVQWPHDQ

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Whiting require a very careful
approach. Walking the ats
rather than drifting from a boat
often produces better results
70 www.modernfishing.com.au
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Made for boats...
Just boats PROUDLY
AUSTRALIAN
MADE

Perfectly adapted to life on the water.

Built with thicker plates and Centurys exclusive
Platelock technology to combat wave pounding, engine PLATELOCKTM DESIGNED & BUILT DUAL PURPOSE:
TECHNOLOGY: FOR AUSTRALIAN STARTING &
vibration and damage from transportation by trailers. VIBRATION RESISTANCE CONDITIONS SEMI-CYCLING

Available in a range of sizes and designs Century Marine

Pro batteries are made just for your boat.
For more information on Centurys range of products,
contact your nearest Century reseller on 13 22 87
or visit www.centurybatteries.com.au
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PRODUCT PROFILE
Toray Fishing Line

TORAY
INNOVATION BY CHEMISTRY
Toray offer a range of oray fishing line has long been a braid, fluorocarbon or monofilament line to

T
heralded in Japan as one of the suit every situation you can encounter. From

high quality braided, best, and most premium products

on the Japanese domestic market.
super light braids and flurocarbon for bream
and trout fishing, to purpose designed sinking

monolament and Torays class leading technology

allows them to produce the most
braids for squid fishing, right up to heavy
braids suitable for jigging and casting.

uorocarbon shing advanced fishing lines, using the

latest, and best materials available. Offering
No matter the fishing style whether it be an
easy Sunday on the local estuary or a more

lines for those a huge variety of products there is sure to be intense competitive environment, Australian

who demand Few brands afford the condence

nothing but the best
and reliability of the Toray range
anglers look to spool with a class of line that
compliments their beloved reels and few
brands afford the confidence and reliability of
the Toray range.
Offering a huge range of mainline and leader
material, each style of Toray line has been
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for tournament style angling, to heavy duty
high abrasion resistant braid and leaders for
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the line you are spooling with has been crafted
as a direct result of years of research, testing
and development.

FISH-TEC SOLUTIONS
To nd out more about the range of
high quality Toray shing lines and leaders,
visit www.sh-tecsolutions.com

PH: 0434 035 733

E: sales@sh-tecsolutions.com

72 www.modernfishing.com.au
PRODUCT PROFILE
Oricom MX500

Built tough for marine

ORICOM MX500 eing on the water, especially in an environments and provides that all-important

B
offshore environment naturally comes safety net should the unthinkable happen and
with a bit of risk. Bad weather can you end up in the water. Should the unit itself
environments, the come in when you least expect it,
and mechanical issues have a habit
end up in the drink, it has a Float and Flash
function ensuring it can easily be retrieved, as
Oricom MX500 is of occurring at the worst of times.
Safety should be paramount on the
well as a vibration draining function to clear out
any unwanted water.

the perfect portable water and there is no substitute for reliable

communication, and the Oricom 5 watt MX500
At a recommended retail price of just $199,
the Oricom MX500 delivers an affordable and
provides just that. reliable portable VHF radio option, perfect for
VHF for your boat Not only is the MX500 a high performance
VHF radio, it is compact, portable and
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lightweight making it the perfect communication

tool to have on you at all times. With a sturdy
belt clip, the Oricom MX500 can be attached
ORICOM
For more on the MX500, or any of the other
easily, and is light enough to wear on the boat or fantastic products in the Oricom range,
kayak all day without feeling cumbersome. visit www.oricom.com.au
On top of its portability, the MX500 is PH: 1300 889 785
genuinely waterproof, rated to IP67 at a depth of E: sales@oricom.com.au
one metre for up to 30 minutes, ideal for marine

The Oricom MX500 is

perfect for long distance
trailerboat adventures!

74 www.modernfishing.com.au
KEY FEATURES On top of its portability,
IP67 waterproof
(1 meter depth for 30 minutes)
Float and flash
the MX500 is genuinely
Vibration water draining function
Dual/tri-watch
5/1 watt switchable
waterproof, rated to IP67
Large backlit display
Programmable and priority scan
Keypad lock
at a depth of one metre
Battery indicator
Operating time up to 8hrs
for up to 30 minutes, ideal
All international, US and Canadian Marine
VHF channel frequencies
2 year warranty (excludes battery*)
for marine environments

TECH SPECS
GENERAL
Frequency range TX: 156.000-161.450MHz
RX: 156.000-163.425MHz
Type of emissions: 16K0G3E (FM)
Power supply voltage: 3.7V DC nominal
Battery pack: 1500mAh Li-ion (DC 3.7V)
Operating time up to 8hrs Duty cycle;
5% transmit, 5% receive & 90% standby
Frequency stability: 10 PPM
Rx Internal SP: 300mA (Max. audio)
Operating temperature range:
(-15 C ~ +55 C)
Antenna impedance: 50
Dimensions (without antenna):
65mm (w) 140mm (h) 41mm (d)
Weight: 247g (With Belt Clip and Antenna)
TRANSMITTER
Output power: 5W/1W switchable power
Max. freq. deviation: 5.0kHz
Adjacent channel power: 70dB
Residual modulation: 40dB
RECEIVER
Sensitivity: 0.22 IV
Squelch sensitivity: 0.22 V
Adjacent channel selectivity: 70dB
Spurious response: 70dB
Intermodulation: 68dB
Audio output power: 0.6W
(at 10% distortion)
Hum and noise: 40dB

MODERN FISHING 75
 BY FAR ST
TE
THE FAS SSOR
COMPREVER
IVE E
USED
- S hauno

ULTRA-HIGH PERFORMANCE,
INSANELY FAST!
Automatic thermal cut-o
8M Heavy Duty rubber hose with
in-built pressure gauge
Legendary Thumper heritage

SHOP ONLINE AT WWW.4WDSUPACENTRE.COM.AU OR CALL

 THE NEW

300L/min
SCORE AN
INSANE PRICE ON
THIS LIGHTNING FAST
AIR COMPRESSOR
TODAY!

MASSIVE
GET IT SAVINGS
NOW! ONLINE
1800 88 39 64 NOW TO GET QUALITY GEAR FOR UNDER $100!
THE GOODS!
Heres a sneak peek at the latest gear to hit the shelves

LOWRANCE LINK-6 VHF MARINE RADIO

Lowrance is pleased to announce the new Link-6, a Class D DSC Approved VHF marine radio. The Link-6 features a dot white matrix
LCD screen with inverted light mode, four backlit mic buttons and an easier front-mount installation with snap on edge bezels.
A replacement for the Link-5 VHF Radio, the Link-6 has a new Startup Wizard for easier radio set up, improved scanning features, a
favourites shortcut for customizing your favourite settings and a My Channels list, enabling users to only scan desired channels. Link-6
controls are designed for left-hand operation, allowing for right-hand control of the helm.

Key features:
High visibility LCD with inverted night mode
Intuitive rotary and keypad controls
)RXUEXWWRQVWPLFURSKRQH
Class D DSC Approved
Dedicated Channel 16 keys
Tri-channel watch function
All international channels
Multiple scan modes
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IPX7 Waterproof
Available in black or white
2-Year Warranty

The Link-6 carries a RRP of $279 (inc. GST)

and is due to be available mid 2017.
For more information, please visit www.lowrance.com/en-au

FISH INC. LURES - WING The Fish Inc. Lures Wing is a 120mm, 50g sinking stickbait that resembles
DSLOFKDUGLQERWKVL]HDQGSUROHPDNLQJLWG\QDPLWHRQHYHU\WKLQJIURP
WDLORUDQGVDOPRQWRNLQJVKWXQDGROSKLQVKPDFNHUHODQGDJJUHVVLYHUHHI
GZHOOLQJVSHFLHV7KHFRORXUUDQJHDQGQLVKHVDUHUVWFODVVIURPQDWXUDO
EDLWVKFRORXUVVXFKDV6DUGLQH5HG%HOO\1DWXUDODQG%RQLWRWRPRUHUHDFWLRQ
FRORXUVVXFKDV*ROG%DFNDQG3LQN%DFN
7KH:LQJFRPHVWWHGZLWKKHDY\GXW\2ZQHUWUHEOHVUHDG\WRVKVWUDLJKW
out of the packet. In the water it comes to life with a sweep or punch of the rod
tip and will be a go-to in the arsenal of beach, rock and boat anglers, with its
JHQHURXVFDVWLQJZHLJKWDQGWKHYHUVDWLOLW\RIEHLQJDEOHWRVKLWIDVWDQGKLJK
in the water column or sink it to the desired depth.

Available in 7 colours, with a SRP of $25.95. Check out the Wing and other
models in the Fish Inc. Lures range at www.tackletactics.com.au. Buckle up!

78 www.modernfishing.com.au
GARMIN FENIX 5 MULTISPORT WATCH
Combining key features from Garmins
fenix 5 multisport watch series with
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capabilities, the new quatix 5 is the most
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Paired with onboard Garmin marine
electronics, the quatix 5 can stream NMEA
2000 data such as speed, depth, temperature,
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paired with a GHC 20 autopilot control unit,
it can be used to control the autopilot to
change heading, engage heading hold, steer
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so users can maintain control of the vessel
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The quatix 5 also makes it easier than
ever to mark and save a waypoint from
anywhere on the boat with the touch of a
button, it can remotely mark a waypoint on
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use the quatix 5 to control their onboard
entertainment system thanks to the built-in
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the time remaining before
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For sail racing, the
quatix 5 features
tack assist, race
countdown timer,
distance to start line,
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Built to withstand
the harsh marine
environment, the
quatix 5 features a
rugged yet sleek design,
is water resistant to 100m,
and features a sunlight-
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backlight so data is easily viewable in any
OLJKW:LWKDQRPQLGLUHFWLRQDOVWDLQOHVV compatible smartphone, users can also
VWHHO(;2DQWHQQDDQGKLJKVHQVLWLYLW\*36 get call, text and email notifications right
ZLWK*/21$66VXSSRUWLWKDVWKHDELOLW\ RQWKHLUZULVW9LD&RQQHFW,4XVHUVFDQ
to track in more challenging environments customise their watch with apps, widgets,
WKDQ*36DORQH7KHTXDWL[ERDVWVXSWR GDWDILHOGVDQGZDWFKIDFHVWRR
KRXUVRIEDWWHU\OLIHLQ*36PRGH The quatix 5 is available in two versions:
hours in UltraTrac mode and two weeks in WKHTXDWL[DQGWKHTXDWL[6DSSKLUH
6SHFLFDOO\GHVLJQHGIRUWKHZDWHUWKH
quatix 5 gives boaters up-to-date tide data
downloaded for the area theyre in through
a smartphone, and provides access to that
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an anchor alarm to warn users of drift and
an anchoring calculator to tell users the
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MERCURY 400R CARBON EDITION
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specific feature sets, the quatix 5 also
includes a host of built-in activity profiles
for land and water sports like running,
hiking, biking, swimming, rowing, and
paddle boarding to name just a few,
along with Garmin Elevate wrist heart
UDWHWHFKQRORJ\:KHQSDLUHGZLWKD
Mercury Racing has proudly revealed its 400R
Carbon Edition, an exotic high performance
Verado outboard with a stunning cowl sculpted
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The Carbon Edition 400R sets the new
benchmark when it comes to bold, aggressive
visuals, and sits comfortably next to its Phantom
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Of course, something that looks this good
has to be able to back it up and Mercury
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At a staggering 153 horsepower per litre, the
400R is the most powerful consumer outboard
ever produced by Mercury and provides the
highest power-to-weight of all other four-
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This incredible achievement in power and
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400R outboards feature a custom cold
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DQGSRZHUGHYHORSPHQWZKLOHVLJQLFDQWO\
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supercharger is designed to reduce intake
the latter incorporating a scratch-resistant
sapphire crystal lens and includes a
stainless steel band as well as a blue silicone
4XLFN)LWEDQG
RRP from AU$799 (quatix 5) and
AU$949 (quatix 5 Sapphire).
Further information, visit: buy.garmin.com/
en-AU/AU/cOnTheWater-p1.html
WHPSHUDWXUHVDQGVLJQLFDQWO\LQFUHDVHDLU
GHQVLW\7KLVHQDEOHVWKHHQJLQHWRJHQHUDWH
unprecedented torque and unmatched
acceleration all the way from the lower end of
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Electronic knock control enables the
engine to safely run on 95 octane (Australian)
when the recommended premium 98 octane
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LQFRUSRUDWHGLQWRWKH/F\OLQGHUEORFNDQG
head ensure classic Verado durability, even at
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Master gearcase with low water pickups for
added performance including boat handling,
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Mercury Racings 400R Carbon Edition
comes with dual protection - Mercurys 2 year
recreational consumer warranty as well as a 3
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Contact your Mercury Racing Dealer
for availability.
MODERN FISHING 79
Functionality meets convenience

The new GX750 black box VHF

marine radio provides all the
functionality of a conventional
fixed-mount radio in the
palm of your hand.

For more information on the GX750

visit www.gme.net.au
GO YOUR
OWN WAY

SAY HELLO TO THE PUMPED-UP, 3-LITRE, MORE TORQUE, 6-SPEED ISUZU D-MAX & MU-X
The new-look, pumped-up Isuzu D-MAX and MU-X are stand out performers on or off-road. With the legendary Isuzu 3-litre turbo diesel
engine, a beefed up 430Nm of torque and an intuitive 6-speed transmission across the range. Coupled with a Terrain Command 4WD system
and outstanding towing capacity, the D-MAX and MU-X have everything you need to pump up any adventure. GO YOUR OWN WAY!

Discover the pumped-up Isuzu D-MAX & MU-X at your Isuzu UTE Dealer or isuzuute.com.au

5-star ANCAP safety rating on all MU-X models and 4x4 D-MAX Crew Cab models built from November 2013 onwards and 4x2 D-MAX Crew Cab High Ride models built from November 2014 onwards. ^5 years/130,000km whichever occurs first, for eligible
customers. Excludes trays and accessories. >The Capped Price Servicing Program (CPS Program) applies to Eligible Vehicles with a Warranty Start Date on or after 1/1/15 at Participating Isuzu UTE Dealers only. The 5 years Capped Price Servicing covers the
first 5 Scheduled Services for 16.5MY and later vehicle models for up to 5 years/50,000km (whichever occurs first). CPS Program is subject to change. For full terms & conditions and current pricing visit isuzuute.com.au/service-plus.
ALL NEW
MX500 5 WATT
VHF MARINE
RADIO

BUILT
TOUGH

Oricom, leaders in handheld communication,

present the MX500 high performance marine radio,
built tough to withstand the harshest of marine
environments. Its Waterproof and if it goes
overboard, oats and ashes for easy retrieval.
The MX500 an essential part of your safety kit.

Buy now: oricom.com.au, only $199 RRP

IP67 waterproof (1 meter depth for 30 minutes), 2 Year warranty excludes battery* 100% AUSSIE OWNED
INK 2575-21