Indholdsfortegnelse for February 2018 i Fishing World

Nothing makes a fisho’s blood boil more than a photo of dead, wasted fish. The days of killing more than you need for immediate consumption are over. Or at least they should be… I still see photos posted online of too many fish being killed, or worse still, undersize fish and illegal bag limits. I have no problem keeping fish; I do it regularly. It would be hypocritical to release fish then visit a fish shop and buy inferior quality seafood. Bringing home a feed for the family is one of the driving factors for fishing and we shouldn’t forget it. That said, keeping too much, or ignoring rec fishing laws needs to stop. The good news is most younger fishos who have grown up in an era of conservation…

THE Cardwell Sportfishing Club has unveiled the Vic McCristal and Eric Moller memorial. The memorial is located on the Cardwell Foreshore at the southern side of the Cardwell Ampitheatre in Victoria Street (opposite Choice Petrol Station). Cardwell resident Vic McCristal OAM was a pioneer of sportfishing in Australia and founder of the Australian National Sportfishing Association (ANSA), a body that transformed recreational fishing into a recognised sport underwritten by a strict code of conservation and integrity. Vic is also regarded as the nation’s greatest fishing writer who gave inspiration to so many readers and anglers. McCristal was a regular contributor for Fishing World. Cardwell resident Eric Moller was a modest, hardworking man of many talents, who endorsed and promoted Cardwell as the place to visit and fish. Eric achieved fame…

The Queensland government has issued a brochure titled “Be a Mate, Check your Bait” in response to the recent outbreak of white spot disease in farmed and wild crustaceans linked to the use of imported frozen prawns as bait, despite numerous warnings from animal health and fisheries aurthorities not to do so and “for human consumption only” warnings on frozen prawn packaging. Freezing does not kill the virus, although it’s harmless to humans. Featuring former Test cricketer Andrew Symonds on the cover (with a nice snapper), the guide has a brief checklist for bait use, a map of Queensland’s white spot restricted area from where it’s illegal to move raw prawns, worms and yabbies, and a link for more information, including advice on selecting the best bait. Go to…

Over the past few years there has been a lot of interest in chasing big Murray cod on surface lures and large swimbaits. It's easy to think this is the only type of cod lure to use if you're focused on your social media stream looking at endless photo streams of big cod with huge lures hanging out of their mouths. It is, however, important to realise that surface lures are just one of the ways to catch a cod, and the bite times when they work are often limited to a few hours a day in the predawn period. While catching cod on surface lures is very effective and a lot of fun, it helps to have a few strings to your bow to extend your fishing hours so…

I find it hard to believe when I see competent anglers snagging expensive lures and then busting them off after a few feeble pulls on the rod. Retrieving snagged lures is important. Leaving lures on snags with leader and braid attached can cause damage to the underwater environment, and a popular snag often becomes a cluster of braid and leader that in turn generates more and more snagged lures if it is still fished. Years ago I remember dragging a big snag out of the Daly River in the Northern Territory at the mouth of No Fish Creek. It was totally wrapped in a mess of line and lures and when we picked through it there were over 40 soft vibes in this mess. With practice and a few tools…

SAMAKI EGI INKED SAMAKI’S Egi Inked stretches 8’6” in length which is absolutely perfect for long lifts or wack whips. The length of an egi rod must be right on the money. You want a perfectly balanced rod for casting those enticing jigs, it must have power for distance casting, finesse for lure retrieval and sensitivity for the angler to feel the strike. Egi Inked indulges the angler cosmetically with a custom painted VSS reel seat, gold trim detail, carbon cross weave wrap and a Samaki foiled logo. It also offers low rider silicon guides, split butt design and hardened EVA grips. Samaki Egi Inked has line weight of PE 0.5-1.2 with a cast weight of 2.0–3.5 grams. More info at samaki.com.au CREATURE FROM THE DEEP IS it…

The use of snaps for connecting lure to leader is a fast, convenient method of changing terminal gear. For many years I was vehemently against the use of snaps in rigging, but I must admit that I’m becoming more accepting of them in certain situations with age. This month we’ll look at the pros & cons of using snaps and the best types to use and those to avoid. The saying “you get what you pay for” is never more apt in fishing gear than when it comes to the purchase of snaps, where the difference in quality between the cheap and nasty and the best money can buy is incredibly vast. The main reason I’ve avoided using snaps over the years has been the fact that I honestly believe…

OF all the components that make up a complete sportfisho’s range of tackle, one vital item gets over looked by many. I see guys with the latest and greatest in custom rods, top range reels and an arsenal of lures that you couldn’t climb over. Yet they neglect the connection that puts all of those components together - line, leaders and knots. This critical factor is often neglected and the end result is lost opportunities after a lot of time, effort and expense is put into a trip. It’s been said many times that the most fragile component in the equation is the connection between your $1000 outfit and the fish you’ve spent so much time and effort to actually hook. If your line, leader and knots are suspect then…

Catching that elusive trophy fish that you’ve chased for years is an angler’s equivalent to conquering Everest. There are many common benchmarks that anglers pursue; a 50cm bass, a metre barra, a 10 pound trout or a 50 pound jewie. They’re all big fish for their species and earn their captors bragging rights and memories that last a lifetime. Big fish don’t come easy, however, and they certainly don’t grow to their trophy size by taking unnecessary risks so require a considered approach and effort to tempt into striking. Eliciting a strike is half the challenge with those once in lifetime captures testing an anglers skill and gear to their limits. There are no shortcuts when targeting trophy fish, you might get lucky and land your prize early but more…

Mercury’s new 15/20 hp EFI fourstroke outboard MERCURY Marine is adding to its range of four stroke outboards, with the introduction of the ultra-lightweight 15 and 20hp EFI FourStroke platform. In addition, Mercury has launched its new multi-function tiller handle, the world’s first portable outboard tiller that offers ambidextrous operation. Designed for anglers, recreational family boaters and commercial operators, Mercury’s latest outboard features battery-free EFI for fast starting, instant throttle response and better overall performance. It is also among the lightest engine of its class on the market, improving acceleration, top speed and handling. On top of all that, according to the manufacturers, it delivers exceptional fuel economy. The 15 and 20hp EFI is designed for ease of maintenance. Its clean, no-drip, no-spill oil drain system, fresh water flushing attachment,…

FOR those of you who recognise the name Pelican I’m sure you’ll agree it’s a brand that’s synonymous with being “built tough”! I’ve personally owned one of its camera cases for well over a decade now and the thing has simply never let me down. It’s seen epic storms and rain, been dropped overboard and has been used as a seat more times than I care to admit but has never missed the mark. My camera gear and lenses have been 100 per cent safe and sound. Pelican is a name that has been the leader in critical equipment protection for more than 35 years with many of its products toting a “lifetime guarantee” (rare to find these days). The company simply makes the best quality products. Cue the new…

I had a call from well-known bream specialist Steve Nedeski wanting a “special” rod for the ABT Grand Final. It had me a little concerned about what his opinion of “special “ might be. As we talked it became clear Steve was in need of an 8ft rod with the ability to fish from 2-4kg. I initially thought it would be a straight forward build, but I was in for a rude shock when I tried to purchase an 8ft blank that would do the job for the man they call “Breamski “. After much phoning around the best I could come up with at such short notice was the 7’6” St Croix 3S76MLXF. Once it arrived I must say I was not disappointed in the “feel” of the blank.…

Scott and Mark are brothers from down Sydney way and they have a passion for bass fishing, particularly on the wild rivers that abound on the Mid-North Coast of NSW. I enjoy fishing with them, they are decent blokes who, although quiet, are great company. So, when they enquired about a trip up my way, we decided to visit Warrell Creek, just north of Macksville. It’s a beautiful spot, although most people just see the section visible from the Pacific Hwy, but we opted to head higher. For me, access is not a problem because I’m good mates with a farmer. Meeting up in Nambucca, we chased down the access key and I introduced the lads to Dave, the landowner. He was fine with our visit, but had one reservation…

What is the Advanced Skipper course? Australia's Boating Industry Association (BIA) ha set out to make the waters of Australia a safer place to enjoy boating. All the statistics show that complacency and lack of situational awareness is the major cause of boating incidents. With over two million Australians with a recreational boat licence there are many that don’t go out often enough to develop good skills. Until now, there hasn’t been a course to help. Advanced Skipper is an online program from the BIA and is designed by industry experts. Advanced Skipper is an online course built by the BIA in partnership with Fresh Air Educators, who also deliver BOATERexam.com. Advanced Skipper is designed for boaters who already have a boat licence, and who are looking for a refresher…