MO

NTH

LYVOLUME 11

29 JULY, 2015

Good day and welcome readers to this month’s JTSM, your local sport�shing news. It’s been a tricky month for local anglers to add some �sh to their chips; unsavoury cold weather, snow in the border country and high winds and rain on the coastline. Before Hughie sends us the westerly wind later next month, �ngers are crossed for stable conditions throughout the coming weeks. We appreciate the reader feedback and stories about the one that got away and encourage everyone to send in their favourite �shing pictures. �is month Australian �shing tackle retailers were invited to the annual AFTA Trade Show held on the Gold Coast. �e AFTA show gives the

wholesalers an opportunity to display their exciting new lines of product for the upcoming year. �e Australian �shing community is in for a range of exciting new products to hit our shelves later this year. Should you be in the market for a crisp new graphite rod, or a shiny new reel, be sure to drop into the store and have a yarn about the “must haves” for the 2015/16 season.

Like us on Facebook and check out some of the exciting new tackle we saw at the show.

Steve KellyEDITOR

IMAGE: Mighty Mouse - Alaska Mouse Fishing

Mighty Mouse - Alaska Mouse FishingA change of pace with this month’s short �shing video. Whilst discussing the bene�ts of a relatively new

variation of down scaled double hand �y casting called “skagit” I stumbled across this quirky little video from

the crew at Fly Out Media. “Mighty Mouse – Alaska Mouse Fishing” was a spontaneous production compiled

by the Fly Out Media crew on a trip to the Aniak River Lodge in Western Alaska. The anglers found themselves

amongst a memorable “mousing” trout session whilst “single hand swinging” arti�cial mouse patterns down

the river; the crew with limited equipment put this little video together.

Not the level of cinematography or high scale production used in many short �lms in recent times, however

the footage gathered is very entertaining. For a range of “A La Carte Marketing and Consulting” services or to

simply check out other short �shing videos, follow the link to Fly Out Media.

�youtmedia.com

Rising swells coinciding with rain squalls and generally bleak overcast days have made it di�cult to �sh o�shore in June. �e month started on a positive note with reasonable squire coming from most reef systems in 60-80m of water to the south of Cape Moreton. In the coming weeks anglers should look to employ �oat lining techniques, using bait or soft plastics, at locations like the 29 and 35 fathom reefs. �ose venturing into deeper waters have tangled with hard �ghting king�sh and amberjack, some of these brutes exceeding the 1.2m mark. Both species should continue to improve in numbers and start moving toward the shallower reef systems with the cooler waters to come. High pitch jigging has been a popular technique over the past 15 years and still proves to be the most successful sport�shing approach for targeting kings and AJs. Pearl perch are in full swing with consistent quality �sh coming from the waters to the south of Deep Tempest and on the 70-80m line of weed to the north east of South Passage. �is time of year also sees the waters o� Caloundra rich with both quality pearl perch and some of

SEQ’s best amberjack. �e three �ngers of reef that make up Wide Caloundra are a popular �sh haven throughout the winter months, o�ering anglers piscatorial opportunities from 50-110m of water. �e typically low laying co�ee rock structure provides the perfect winter time wonderland for pearlies with darker moon phases and late afternoons proving most productive.

�e majority of the summer time pelagic �sh have now headed for warmer waters, the exception being small numbers of quality spanish mackerel and wahoo. �e rough conditions have seen these speedsters move into the shallow waters o� Cape Moreton and Point Lookout. Keen lure casters have been fortunate to encounter multiple aerial attacks on surface lures; many of the �sh boated exceeding the 20kg mark. Caution must be taken when chasing these speedsters in relatively shallow unforgiving waters when large swells and poor sea conditions are present. �e month of July typically marks the start of the SEQ o�shore snapper �shery. Here’s hoping favourable weather and boating conditions are on the horizon.

Offshore FishyREPORT

IMAGE: The boss with another qualityRTE taken on her new Evergreen out�t,great job Lyn!

Moreton Bay Fishy REPORT

IMAGE: Now’s the time

for XOS amberjack -

Lyn with a �ne example

falling to a Smith jig.

A micro �sh on a micro jig, what a beauty!

Well it’s that time of year folks, bust out your favourite plastic prawn imitation and invite a cephalopod home for dinner. �e cooler waters have brought an abundance of squid that have now spread throughout the entirety of Moreton Bay. �e expanse of �ats stretching from the Bulwer Wrecks to the Tangalooma Wrecks is producing good squid either side of the high tide change. �e greater Scarborough Reef system and the myriad of weed covered sandbanks throughout the bay are all home to quality squid and cuttle�sh during winter. Southern bay anglers should target the fringing bay island reefs, keen nocturnal land based �sho’s are reporting excellent quality squid from Manly Harbour and Victoria Point.Schooling size jew�sh are now frequenting the deeper structures throughout the southern bay, quality specimens above the metre mark being captured on a regular basis. Hot locations have been the sunken pipes and broken structure at Harry’s Reef, the Tiwi Pearl wreck and the ever reliable Peel Island Arti�cial. As always anglers are best served by quietly sounding and structure scanning these areas to pin point the schools of �sh prior to presenting sinking lures. Jackall Mask Vibes along with Tranzams and a variety of slow

pitch style jigs are all e�ective choices when selecting a lure to entice thread�n salmon and jew�sh. Present your o�erings in the bottom few meters of the water column, the majority of the time both these species are reasonably lethargic and slow moving until hooked.Snapper numbers are continuing to improve throughout the southern bay islands with the average size increasing as we approach August. Successful anglers have been targeting the hard reef fringes and weed beds late in the afternoons or at �rst light. Long casts into your drift line using lightly weighted jig heads should produce results this winter. As the tide falls casting deep diving crank baits to the reefs edge is another popular technique for targeting the larger specimens. Both tailor and juvenile king�sh are frequenting our shallow reef �ats and make for entertaining sessions when casting surface plugs and shallow diving minnows. When targeting tailor or kings, look to cast toward the sections of reef with turbulent water and bait �sh activity. While the speedsters have all but said hooroo, we welcome the thought of a long snapper season and calm afternoons on the bay throughout August.

THE DINNER BELLS ARE RINGING. JACK WITH A PERFECT TABLE SIZE SNAPPER CAUGHT ON A BERKLEY SLOMO JIG.

“QUATTRO 100% FLUOROCARBON combines HI-SEAS exclusive Quattro 4-color camo technology with

�uorocarbon line! �e unique colouring process does for �shing line what camou�age clothes do for the hunter – it

breaks up visual patterns making the line blend into its surroundings. Four scienti�cally selected colours are

alternated along the �uorocarbon reducing light transmission and creating a whole new level of invisibility. �e line

is smooth and supple, and is the best handling �uorocarbon yet! Now you can increase your line and leader rating

without sacri�cing stealth or �shability.”

Hi Seas Fluorocarbon is one of only a few 100% �uoro leaders available on the Australian market. If you’re after a

premium �uorocarbon leader that o�ers the ultimate in abrasion resistance and invisibility under water, drop on

down to the store to see our range of Hi Seas Quattro Leaders.

New PRODUCTS

South East Queensland’s month for spawning bream is certainly not disappointing. Excellent schools of quality silver �sh have been on o�er to anglers right down the coastline, with both size and quantity improving as every tide passes. �e deeper channels at Jumpinpin, Gold Coast Seaway and the Tweed River Mouth have all been productive havens for these winter time spawning �sh. Sinking lure o�erings like small shrimp style soft plastics, blades and the ever reliable deep chubby style crank baits have all put �sh on the decks during July. Typically these �sh will remain in the deeper channels and passages until the full moon in August, upon which they should disperse throughout the estuaries and open front beaches. Schooling size male �athead have also been wide spread throughout July, the occasional large female still falling to a well presented lure in the deeper channels. Flathead numbers should steadily continue to increase over the coming weeks with the male �sh becoming very aggressive during the run out tide over our estuarine �ats. �e Broadwater, Jumpinpin and Bribie Passage are all well known spots but don’t discount the smaller

tributaries like the Pimpama River, Hayes Inlet (below the green zone) and Ningi Creek. Towards the mouths of these locations can be a real hot spot during the height of winter. Tailor are now frequenting our local estuaries providing sport�sho’s excellent light tackle action. �ese �sh are particularly aggressive and known to eat a broad range of lures, from the humble 3”minnow soft plastic to a surface lure 5” long. Surface lure �shing for tailor is an exciting way to either start or �nish a day’s �shing, especially when some of these brutes have been upward of 80cm in length. High current �ow over shallow structure, rock walls or locations that have turbulent water are all good places to run a surface lure across. Soapy jew are becoming an increasing catch amongst estuary anglers and usually oblige to a gently presented sinking lure or live bait. As this cold weather continues we should see these schooling jew �sh joined by much larger female specimens.

EstuaryFishyREPORT

IMAGE: Ross Bodger with a very sandy looking

dusky �athead, one of �ve he landed

over 70cm in a morning session.

THE ESTUARIES ARE ALIVE WITH SOAPY JEW THIS WINTER.

CHRIS BAMFORD ENJOYING SOME “LONG WAND ACTION” ON A CRISP, CLOUDLESS WINTER’S MORNING.

“�e Shiverstick 125 has a vibrating, shivering action when allowed to sink through the water column & a strong side-to-side action when twitched and retrieved - perfect for shore game or boat angling.”Shiverstick 125 is the latest edition to our comprehensive range of sinking stickbaits here at Jones’s Tackle. Perfect timing sees CID’s new stickbait arrive just as the tailor are moving along the beaches of SEQ. Sure to be just as popular with the boaties as it is the land based sport�sho’s, any keen pelagic enthusiast should have one of these little champions in their box!

�e 3DB Cray�sh is a slow sinking cray�sh pattern hard-bait, a forage favourite for Largemouth Bass. �e design includes the patented internal 3D Prism Finish along with Yo-Zuri’s Wave Motion Technology. In addition to these features, each 3DB Cray�sh includes a realistic prism egg sac with UV properties. �e 3DB Cray�sh has a jointed tail that articulates as the bait is �shed as a jig, or slow swimming action, just above the bottom. �e hook is held in strike position by a heavy duty cable weed guard.Although designed for largemouth bass, the new Yo-Zuri 3DB Cray�sh is sure to tempt our local species. Easy on the angler’s eye, its slow sinking, natural cray�sh swimming action should prove deadly on our Aussie natives. Nibble your way down to Jones’s Tackle to see our favourite new weedless jointed tailed cray�sh.

New LURES

FinalWORD

Steve KellyEDITOR

Folks that’s just about all for the piscatorial happenings in and around SEQ for another month. We would love to thank all the regular contributors for sending in their pictures and invite any of our readers to send us a �shy happy snap for next month’s edition. It’s a great time of year to pick up a super deal on any of our clearance stock as we make way for the exciting new 2015-2016 models. If you have any enquiries or just fancy a chin wag about what’s biting around the pond, be sure to drop us a line at jtsm@jonestackle.com.au or come past the store and say G’Day. Until next month the crew at Jones’s Tackle wish everyone tight lines and we hope there are favourable boating conditions to come. Here’s hoping we all get a chance to rug up and enjoy what the outdoors have to o�er this winter.Hooroo

A large Tarpon charges bait o� the edge of a Florida �at, something we should go and see at least once...

(photo credit: Sam Root @Salty Shores)

http://www.saltyshores.com/

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