Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Caravan, Camping and Touring Holiday Show A Hit



All the feedback we're getting and our own experience is that the QLD Caravan and Camping show at the RNA showgrounds in Brisbane earlier this month was a hit. 


Unfortunately it was quite wet, and this kept numbers down, but that didn't dampen the spirits of those who attended.




The show had something for everyoen with nearly 300 exhibitors showing off the latest services, destinations and innovations, including the the Nautilus camper-trailer  from Ultimate. Its sleek lines were inspired by the yacht-building heritage of the company owners, the Hacketts. Described as a "state of the art" design involving glass fabrics, structural cores and monocoque construction, the aerodynamic Nautilus weighs in at only 1300kg, making it more fuel-efficient to tow.
Other highlights were the caravans which "park themselves" and motorhomes with expandable "rooms". Visitors also have the opportunity to win a caravan, complete with a tinnie and outboard motor.


One of the greatest things about Camping shows is the presentations they have about camping every day! Whether it be about towing or solar power or working around Australia, these shows have all you need to know and this years Qld Caravan, Camping and Touring Holiday was no exception.


If you missed out, make sure you mark your diary for this event next year.


For more information on next year's event visit the official Caravan Qld Website.





Friday, June 22, 2012

Base yourself at Eurong Beach Resort


Fishermen looking for  for Fraser Island beach fishing  accommodation options need look no further than the Eurong Beach Resort on 75 Mile Beach.  Based on the Eastern side of Fraser Island, the Eurong Beach resort  has easy access to the surf gutters just out the front, and a short drive to the productive gutters north of the of the Maheno wreck, so staying at the Eurong resort means you can get your lines in to the water faster, and catch more fish!

A 4 man FishMax team recently based themselves at Eurong Beach Resort at Fraser Island, Qld as part of a 3 day trip to field test the latest Alvey Surf Reels and the new Ford Ranger Twin Cab ute and all members agreed it was an ideal base for the Fraser Island surf fisherman, particularly given the attrocious weather conditions we encountered.

We chose to take the barge from River Heads (20 min for Hervey Bay) to Wanggoolba Creek, and then it took less than an hour to cross the island  from the barge landing point to the resort. Even though we arrived on dark, the helpful resort staff ensured that we were checked in efficiently and that we had a booking for dinner at the resort restaurant. They also made sure we knew the hours for breakfast and offered to provide a packed breakfast to facilitate an early start the next day if required. In fact we decided to fish the gutters in the early dawn, and after what turned out to be a couple of hours of un-productive and very wet fishing, the hot showers and full cooked breakfast back at the resort, meant that we could start the rest of the day warm and well fed.

Accommodation at the Eurong Beach resort is designed to suit all budgets and ranges from hotel units to two-bedroom apartments. The self-contained hotel units have double or twin beds and day beds, which make two single beds for children, but serious fishermen will probably prefer the self-contained, two-bedroom apartments which accommodate up to five people and have large living areas, decks, fully-equipped kitchens, bathrooms and balconies.

The rooms have plenty of space for fishermen and their gear, and while certainly not luxurious, they have everything the serious fisherman would want, including, perhaps most importantly,  comfortable beds and heaps of hot water in the showers. The food at the Eurong Beach Resort was good solid fair, ideal for filling up the hungry fisho! The Beach Bar is a great place to catch up for a cold beer and a game of pool after a days fishing or when the weather is just too bad for night fishing as was the case for us.

While at the Fraser Island Eurong resort, we spoke to a number of other fishermen who regularly use the resort as their fishing base, and all agreed that it had everything the fishermen needed and given the dreadful weather conditions we encountered, it beat sleeping under canvas hands down! Next time you're fishing the Fraser Island ocean side beaches, you should certainly consider Eurong Beach Resort as your base.

To check out the Eurong Beach Resort specials available right now, visit their website, www.eurong.com.au, call them on 1800 111 808 or email them at enquiries@eurong.com

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Caravan, Camping and Touring Holiday Show

For those readers in Queensland, remember that the 2012 Caravan, Camping and Touring Holiday Show is on from today until June 12 at the RNA Show Grounds.

With hundreds of all the leading brands of new caravans, motorhomes, camper trailers, off- road vehicles, tent trailers, 5th wheelers and other recreational vehicle, the 2012 show marks the 45th Queensland Caravan, Camping & Touring Holiday Show.

This year you'll see over 270 individual exhibitors displaying their products and services in nearly 50,000sqm of space.

With over 420,000 registered caravans and recreational vehicles in Australia today and an estimated  15,000+Australians in an extended road holiday at any one time caravanning and camping is the largest single segment of tourism in Australia and the 2012 Caravan and Camping Show has something for all those interested.


Where
RNA Showgrounds, 600 Gregory Terrace, Bowen Hills, Brisbane


When
Wednesday 6th June to Tuesday 12th June, 2012
This includes the long weekend.

Opening Hours
10am to 6pm daily
Except the last day, Tuesday when the show closes at 4pm.

Admission
Adults:                                                 $15.00
Pensioners (Aged, Veteran, Disability):   $10.00
Accompanied school age children free

For more information, visit the official website.

Amazing Trout Photos


American fly fisherman and fishing photographer Clayton Stewart takes amazing photos and we just had to share this one of a beautiful high mountain tiger trout.

For more amazing trout photos from Clay Steward, visit his Flickr pages.

Monday, June 4, 2012

Rapala Barra Magnum Tribute


Regular guest contributor Rhett Thorne from Mad Keen Yak Angling  talks barra lures from Rapala!

Over the years many lures have stood up to the challenge of the iconic barramundi, though few have impacted the way we target these excellent sportfish like the Rapala Barra Magnum.

The Rapala Barra Magnum 'Nordic Perch' colour
This lure is tough as nails, being constructed of the very durable Abachi wood and fitted with VMC Perma Steel hooks. The enhanced deep diving lip design allows the lure to dig deep into the structure to draw out any hungry predators.

This Big Barra smashed the BMAG11 when it was slowly twitched in the snags.
 One of the most deadly retrieves is to cast the Barra Magnum as far into the snags as possible, crank it down into the ‘strike zone’ and give it a sharp twitch and pause. The key to this retrieve is to impart a darting action like a wounded baitfish, without moving the lure out of the snags. If the lure hits a snag, it will float out, in a backwards motion on the pause, due to its positive buoyancy. It is very important you keep slight tension of the line during the pause, as most barra will smash the lure as it rises out of the structure.



This lure has proven itself on countless occasions, though all good things must come to an end.

Unfortunately for the Rapala Barra Magnum the end is near, with the lure being discontinued by the end of 2012. The guys at Rapala VMC have decided to release the old favourite colours, as well as some unseen ones, in the final run of the Barra Magnum. Check with your local Rapala dealer to get your hands on the limited edition Rapala BMAG11 while stocks last.

As the door closes on the BMAG11 era, another is opened with the release of the Storm Thunder Barra. This is one of the new and improved barramundi lures by Rapala VMC and has quickly made its mark on more than a few barramundi over the last season. If you loved the Rapala Barra Magnum, the Thunder Barra will have you begging for water in no time.

A salty silver barra taken on the Storm Thunder Barra Lure

Words and Pics: Rhett Thorne - reproduced with permission. Read more from Rhett's at Mad Keen Yak Angling.

Saturday, June 2, 2012

Largest Shark Ever Caught in the UK

Record Shark Caught of English Coast
10 feet long and weighing over 550 lbs, two British fishermen have laid claim to the largest shark ever caught in the UK according to media reports

Wayne Comben and Graeme Pullen spent over an hour and half reeling in  the largest shark ever caught in British waters just off the Cornish Coast in South West England.

The record fish was a 10ft-long porbeagle, a member of the  Great White family, easily beating the 507lbs record for the previous biggest shark caught off the north Scottish coast in 1993.


Click here to read the full story in the Daily Mail (UK)