FishMax - THE Australian Online Fishing Magazine

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2012-01-26T17:41:00.000+10:00

Casey Stoner childhood fishing photo published first at FishMax

It might be shallow but we're really stoked that our exclusive interview last year with Casey Stoner has been picked up by the European press.

It's great to see an Aussie succeeding in the world stage in any sport, and even more exciting when he or she is also a keen fisherman like Casey.

It was also kind of nice to be called "one of the best Australian Fishing Webzines specialising in fishing" by one Belgian mob.

To read the full interview with Casey Stoner, exclusive to FishMax, click here.

Bar Catch from Bar Crusher Makes it Easy

2012-01-25T17:15:00.002+10:00

Bar Catch makes trailering your boat simple

For those of you who haven't tried it, you'll be interested to hear that Bar Crusher's Bar Catch™ trailer system, which makes single-handed launching and retrieving a breeze, now comes standard on all factory-packaged trailors from Bar Crusher.

It's constructed to a standard that's as heavy-duty as the Bar Crusher boats themselves and its simple to use. To launch, simply back the the boat into the water and the winch strap is loosened, allowing the boat to slide back so it's retained by the Bar Catch. The elastic strap is then moved to the rear position. When the skipper powers the boat forward slightly, the Bar Catch will be free to drop down and the boat can be reversed off the trailer.

To retrieve,with the elastic strap attached to the rear of the Bar Catch, the skipper drives the boat onto the trailer so the hook eye on the front of the boat rides over the Bar Catch. The system automatically clicks into position, retaining the boat.

Designed for use only when the trailer is backed into the water, Bar Catch is never to be used for towing. Remember – always ensure the safety chain and winch strap are secure before driving the boat/trailer out of the water.

Further information: Bar Crusher Boats – (03) 9792 2999 or visit: http://www.barcrusher.com.au/

How to Hypnotise a Shark

2012-01-23T14:13:00.000+10:00

For those of you of a certain age, you'll remember Max Walker's "How to Hynotise Chooks and other Great Yarns " but how about hypnotising sharks? Well that's exactly what model Cristina Zenato appears to do in this clip filmed by Joe Romeiro.

Christina Zenato is a renowned shark expert who works in the shark-infested waters of the Bahamas and she is known as 'the Shark Whisperer' and puts the ocean's fiercest predators in a trance simply by rubbing their noses.

When a shark is under her spell, Zenato can lift it up and manipulate it into whatever position she wants in the almost weightless environment. She can even make the shark stand on its nose!But for Zenato, hypnotizing sharks is not just a clever trick; she actually uses her powers to give medical aid to the sharks.

Growing up in and around the water, Joe Romeiro developed a love for the ocean at a young age. After seeing his first shark when he was just 5 years old, he has been captivated by them ever since. A self-taught filmmaker, he founded 333 Productions in 2007 with fellow producer & shark conservationist Bill Fisher. Since then, 333 Productions has created four award-winning films, "Silent Requiem", "Death of a Deity", "A Lateral Line" and "Shark Culture". For more great shark video clips from Romeiro, visit his website.

Hot Tips for Catching Australian Bass

2012-01-21T19:05:00.000+10:00

Considered by many as one of Australia's mostoutstanding freshwater sports fish, and the Australian native fisherman's answer to trout, Bass will respond to angling methods used by trout fishermen and will easily outfight trout of a similar size, . The species is now becoming extremely popular amongst the angling community especially in inland dams.

What's the best bait for Australian Bass? Well according to BCF's Bass Fact Sheet, it's shrimp, yabbies and worms but at least one old timer we know swears that the best bait for Australian Bass is black crickets and of course there are many of us who have our favourite bass lure.

And of course, its not just wait bait you use, but when you use it. Bass will become active when their main food source is active. In our experience the best feeding times usually occurs in low light situations because Australian Bass do not like the sun, and of course, most insect activity is at night.

Australian Bass, also known as Freshwater Perch, can be found in coastal rivers and streams along the Eastern seaboard from Tin Can Bay in Queensland, south through New South Wales and into eastern Victoria although according to the Australian Native Fish Association, they have not been recorded west of Wilson's Promontory.

Australian Bass are reportedly most prolific in the waters of remote streams in the far south coast of New South Wales and eastern Gippsland in Victoria.

2012 Green Valley Yellowbelly Classic

2012-01-19T18:50:00.000+10:00

Heralded as one of the best fishing locations and Australia’s biggest Murray cod fishery, Lake Eildon’s Delatite Arm is an idyllic setting for the angler eager to catch a redfin; or even a trout, cod or yellowbelly.

A CRACKER OF A START AND FISH!
In November 2011, fellow fishing enthusiasts and big-hearted sponsors got together and hosted the inaugural Green Valley Yellowbelly Classic. A fun catch and release fishing tournament on the Delatite Arm of Lake Eildon, 15 kilometres from Mansfield. The winning fish was a 16lb, 60cm yellowbelly!

The success of the event and the combination of raising funds for local not for profit organisations such as the local kindergarten was the catalyst to present another fishing tournament; the 2012 Green Valley Redfin Classic.

The family friendly Redfin fishing tournament is being staged on the Delatite Arm and Howes Creek Inlet of Lake Eildon, 15 kilometres from Mansfield on the shores of the lake and is expected to attract a crowd of junior and senior anglers competing for a host of rod and reel tackle prizes and cash. The event is open to all age groups so tell your friends and family.

EVENT DETAILS
Date: Saturday 10^th and Sunday 11^th March 2012

Fishing Times: Saturday 8am to 4pm and Sunday 8am to 12 noon

Registration: to register email jamie@delatitesportfishingadventures.com.au

Cost: $50 per adult and $20 per child (under 14 years of age)

Inclusions:

§ Cooked breakfast Saturday

§ Cooked breakfast Sunday

§ Dinner Saturday night

§ FREE onsite lakeside camping

§ Prizes including fishing gear, camping goods and cash

For more details visit with website here.

Fishing still a favourite pastime – even 42,000 years later

2012-01-18T12:54:00.000+10:00

According to a report printed in the latest issue of the journal Science, people have been deep sea fishing around or near Australia for a very long time. At least 42,000 years in fact according to Professor Sue O'Connor, Dr Chris Clarkson and other Australian archeologists who made the discovery at Jerimalai cave in East Timor. They also found the earliest known example of a fishhook.

Dr Clarkson said the findings made by the team from the Jerimalai site demonstrated that 42,000 years ago, our regional ancestors had high-level maritime skills, and by implication the technology needed to make the ocean crossings to reach Australia.

The study found more than 38,000 fish bones from 2843 individual fish dating back 42,000 years from the site, implying that the inhabitants were indeed fishing in the deep sea.

The shell fish hook found by Professor O'Connor dates to between 23,000 and 16,000 years ago, showing that early human colonists were skilled crafts' people as well as fishers.

The article states there is no evidence of hook-and-line fishing of this antiquity anywhere else in the world. The fact that it first appeared on our doorstep made it “extremely exciting and significant” Dr Clarkson said.

"It appears people had already been reliant on fish at the site for more than 20,000 years by the time these shell fish hooks appeared. We also know that the earliest colonists of our region were capable of long-distance sea voyaging," he said.

"Essentially, what Professor O'Connor found at Jerimalai is evidence of an innovative, marine-adapted population engaged in very sophisticated subsistence at around the time many higher latitude populations were forced into glacial refugia."

What is still unclear however is how ancient people were able to catch these fast-moving deep-ocean fish.

"Fisherman today say it is certainly possible to catch tuna and other pelagic species from the shore from time to time, but the team think it is unlikely that this would explain the high proportion of pelagic fish bone found in the lowest layers at the site," Dr Clarkson said.

The study found that more than half the very abundant fish bone at the site is from these difficult-to-catch pelagic species. This suggests systematic targeting of these species, possibly involving capture from boats, the use of nets, or some means of attracting the fish.

"It would be nice to think a sophisticated technology was in use, but we just don't know what it was yet. We're hopeful that new excavations at the site will help reveal that."

The recent findings from Jerimalai cave have brought researchers a step closer to solving the mystery of how Australia's ancient ancestors arrived at least 50,000 years ago.

"Boats were probably necessary for people to cross from Island Southeast Asia into Australia before 50,000 years ago. Even greater voyages were made out to islands of New Guinea and the Solomon Islands more than 40,000 years ago," Dr Clarkson said.

"The evidence from Jerimalai is the first to conclusively demonstrate that early colonists in this region had the technical capacities to exist on marine foods and plan voyages into the open ocean at this time. I'm hoping the stone tools will also help reveal more about the technological skills and activities of the early colonists of SE Asia."

Dr Clarkson and his colleagues have published their findings in the latest issue of Science.

You paid how much for a lure?

2012-01-17T18:28:00.000+10:00

Is this the ultimate in hard bodied lures?

Like most fishermen, we here at FishMax have been known to pay a little more than perhaps we should for a lure, but over $400!?! That's how much a hard bodied lure called the "Mother Triple" from Japanese lure maker "Roman Made" will cost you [Ed: US$415.99 to be exact]. and no, it's not some sort of gimick or display lure, it's an actual lure designed to catch Large Mouthed Bass.

According to leading US tackle seller Tacklewarehouse.com, "Offering an additional jointed segment, the Roman Made Mother Triple Swimbait features the same beautifully crafted body design and key characteristics as the original Mother swimbait - now with a more lifelike and fluid swimming motion. Handmade and handcrafted one-by-one in Roman Made’s facility near Lake Biwa in Japan, each bait takes approximately 12 hours to create. Tried and tested on the waters of Lake Biwa, its a true big fish bait designed for catching bass 30-inches and bigger. As proof, world record holder Manabu Kurita hooked into a bass he estimated to be 28-pounds on a version of the Mother swimbait, but lost her during the fight, and also landed the previous Lake Biwa record (prior to his world-record tying bass) on a Mother swimbait. Extremely difficult to find, the Roman Made Mother Triple Swimbait is a true work-of-art."

Even for crazy fishermen like us, $400 + is pretty hard to justify for a lure, no matter how many fish you catch with it. As one punter said "this thing would want to gut and fillet your fish for you once you caught it at that price".

Catching Squid - Ideal Kingfish Bait

2012-01-15T20:32:00.000+10:00

If you want to catch large Kingfish you're going to need good bait, so catching fresh squid (calamari) is a must have skill.

In this Rapala video, Anthony Raco from Band of Brothers runs through how you can succesfully locate and succesfully catch squid using a Rapala Ikado SWS Squid Jig.

This is a very useful and easy to follow youtube how to fishing clip for anyone seriously chasing Kingfish or of course, squid either as its own reward or as bait for other species like Jewfish or Snapper.

Band of Brothers Productions was established by Dennis Minuti and Anthony Raco to film and produce Fishing and Adventure DVDs.

Barra on the Fly

2012-01-12T20:24:00.000+10:00

According to their website, the guys from Mad Food Fishing believe there is an easy way and a hard way to do most things, and that it's often more fun to do it the hard way! Best of all these guys have released a film showing them doing it the hardway!
Up the Creek is a film about big fish, impossible country, and the search for a new challenge. When you think you’ve seen it all before, take a ride with five mad Aussies as they dive into the devil’s lair, in pursuit of monster Barramundi.

Fly fishing usually conjures romantic images of light lines, tiny flies and delicate trout. But add float tubes and huge Barramundi, brutal snags and the very real chance of bumping into a crocodile and it's no wonder it hasn't been tried before.

The film follows five avid fly fishers using helmet cameras to capture their adventure on float tubes chasing massive barramundi with fly rods. The resulting film is unlike anything you have seen before. It's raw and honest. It's not 3D, hell, it’s not even HD, but it captures a realism that's not often seen in fishing films. All the agony and the ecstasy is laid bare and you get to experience what it's really like. For more information or to buy the DVD, visit the website.

Strange Things Happen at Sea

2012-01-10T15:01:00.000+10:00

Most of us have seen some pretty odd things drifting by while we fish, but while a dog might not be the oddest sight, this story sure is one of the saddest we've heard.

Imagine the surprise of this Kayak fisherman in the Gulf of Mexico near Sarasota in the USA when a dog is spotted drifing near by. The fisherman, who wants to remain nameless, rescued the distressed dog and pulled him aboard.

A visit to a vet confirmed that the dog was in reasonable health and had a microchip. This is when what would otherwise be a happy story of a lost dog found, revealed a sad twist. The dog, called Barney was out being walked by his owner, a 53 year old local woman, when she was hit and killed by a drunk driver. Barney ran away, and appears to have entered the water in his distress.

The accident scene was about a mile from where Barney was found swimming.

The positive news is that Barney is now re-united with his family, and they are helping each other cope with the terrible situation.

The Luck of the Irish

2012-01-09T20:22:00.001+10:00

At FishMax we get fishing reports from all over the world, but not many from Ireland. That's until we saw these pictures from a charter run by Hamish Currie called "Predator Ireland".

Based in Cushendall, north of Belfast, Northern Ireland and specialising in fishing in the Irish Sea for big predator fish including Shark, Cod, Pollack, Mackerel, Whiting, Gurnard, Herring, Coalfish, Haddock, Wrasse, Dabs, Plaice, Turbot, Blond Ray, Thornback Ray, Cuckoo Ray, Spotted Ray, Skate, Dogfish, Conger.

2011was a very big year for the Predator team recording a total of 155 irish specimen fish (11 different species) 3 new Irish records and 1 still to be ratified. Here are some of photos of the great Irish fish this guys have landed (catch and release of course!).

Visit the Predator Ireland website for more photos or details of chartering the boat if you are looking for an Irish Sea Fishing Adventure.

SPOT X PNG

2012-01-04T12:06:00.016+10:00

Big Bad Black Bass Action at a new New Britian Spot

In August this year, Fish Max contributor Mal McCully was one of the first guests to fish an exciting new fishing destination organised by Riccard Reimann from Baia Sports Fishing Lodge in PNG. The spot is so new that it didn’t have a name.

Riccard is looking to establish a permanent base in the area, but for this first trip, accommodation was organised in a private house on a picture postcard tropical island.

The spot is located to the west of Kimbe, the opposite direction to the Baia Lodge. Getting to the spot was no easy feat for Mal, who lives in the south east of South Australia. It took Mal three days to get there, having to first drive four hours to Adelaide, board a flight to Brisbane, followed by another to Cairns. From Cairns, a flight to Port Moresby and then yet another to Hoskins situated on the north coast of West New Britian Province PNG. From there, a four wheel drive trip to the Liamo Reef resort in Kimbe, where they overnighted in relative luxury.

The next morning a short 4WD trip of less than an hour, took the small group of five anglers to the fibreglass dinghy’s for a 2 hour trip to the small tropical island camp where they would call home for the next 7 days. Accommodation was in traditional thatched house with an outside cooking hut. The camp only had rudimentary facilities but did include a generator and a fridge/freezer. Plans are underway to upgrade the level of comfort with showers, fans and more refrigeration. They fished 6 different rivers to the west of the island. The 2 boats were owned and operated by the traditional local people. Each boat held 2 anglers, a fishing guide, a local driver and another local who spotted up front. A boat trip of between three quarters and one and a half hours, had the fisherman at the mouth of various rivers, where they proceeded to fish from there to a further 20 to 30 kilometres upstream.

The Papuan Black Bass is considered one of the most powerful fish ‘pound for pound’ that exist. When they strike, in spite of locked drags and spools thumbed hard, line still peeled off as if no drag was applied at all. Many have described the experience to hooking up to a speeding freight train. Mal had around one second to turn a fish once hit, otherwise all was lost, as they thundered towards snag or mangrove to break off the line as if it were thin cotton. Many rigs were busted by these notoriously hard fighting fish.

The Spot Tail Bass were found upstream in fast flowing, clearer water were they tended to like a little white water flowing fast over logs, rocks or other obstructions. The black bass were mainly found downstream in the saltier water and at the river mouth.

The fishing comprised of flicking lures towards structure and trolling. Forty five black and spot tail Bass were landed by Mal and his fishing buddy, Ivan New over the next seven days, as well as 4 monster mangrove jack around 6.5 kg and a handful of GT’s to 14kg. Most bass were around the 4 to 5 kg mark, with one monster going to 14 kg. Recent reports from this same spot, talks of fish to 20 kg being caught! All fish landed were carefully released to fight another day.

Fish like these need beefed up gear. Mal’s tackle including custom made Ian Miller 10-20kg Papuan Black bass rod, custom Ian Miller 10 kg Barra rods, a two Daiwa Zillion 100 HLC Baitcaster reels, a Shimano Calcutta 200 TE and a 200 TE DC reel. All reels had their drags upgraded to around 9 kg. Line was 50lb Power Pro braid with 80lb Schneider leader. Lures were a mixture of Roosta poppers, Reidy’s B-52s, Killalure River Rats, Rapala X-raps, Halco Hammas, Halco Scorpians, Bomber’s and Barra Classic hard bodied lures, from 105 mm to 125 mm in length, with most diving around 3 to 5 metres deep. All rings and trebles were upgraded, the hooks to Owner 6X trebles. Popular lure colours included Elton Johns, fluoro greens, silver and black, classic gold, and plain silvers.

One time, when Mal had a GT at the side of the boat, the biggest Black Tail Bass he had ever seen, rose from the depths and hammered the hooked fish. This fish, twice as big as any they had caught, made short work of the 6 kg trevally and rig. Going by the weight of the others they had caught, Mal estimated this fish to be over 20kg, maybe even closer to the 25kg mark!

As you can probably imagine Mal and Ivan are as keen as ever to get back there again next year, though Ivan is threatening to upgrade to 20kg rods, 80lb braid with 100lb leader. With fish like the one Mal saw, we think he might want to go even heavier!

Are these the hardest fishermen alive?

2012-01-03T16:40:00.000+10:00

Aussie fishermen like to think of themselves as hard men, and there is very little we Aussies won't brave in our quest for the next fish. However, after seeing this video we just had to tip our hats to what might be two of the hardest fishermen there are - two crazy ice-fishermen from Northern Ontario Canada.

Hotest Fishing Spots 2012?

2012-01-01T16:23:00.000+10:00

Goodbye 2011 Hello 2012

Well 2011 is over and there has been a lot of water under the bridge (literally and metaphorically). We're really hoping that 2012 is going to be something special in terms of Australian fishing and we're going to be working hard to bring you the best fishing spots in 2012 as well as more tips on how to catch the big fish as well as interesting stories, fun contests, 2012 fishing freebies and giveaways and of course fishing interviews and more.

Celebrity Fishing: Charlie Sheen Reel's 'em in

2011-12-29T16:45:00.000+10:00

Good old Charlie Sheen has had quite a year, but like the rest of us regular Joe's, he knows that a spot of fishing can help take your mind off your troubles.

Charlie Sheen Fishing with Family

According to his twitter posts, Charlie Sheen went fishing with his ex-wife Denise Richards, their two children Sam and Lola and the actress' adopted daughter Eloise Joni just before Christmas. He even posted this photo of a fish he caught. Not much to smile about there Charlie!

Hazards of Kayak Fishing

2011-12-28T16:42:00.001+10:00

South African Fisherman survives shark attack

'Yak fishermen sometimes like to think of themselves as a breed apart, and certainly Kayak fishing has its challenges. Just ask Werner Coetzee, a 35 year old 'yak fisherman from Johannesburg - he survived a shark attack while fishing off Noordhoek in Port Elizabeth, South Africa two days before Christmas!

“The shark came from underneath me, the same way it klaps a seal. I never saw him until it happened," Coetzee,told the media. The great white shark emerged out of the water and knocked the front of his fishing Kayak so hard that he was flung up into the air Coetzee said.

"I have a Pinnacle kayak which takes a big punch, but he knocked me and the front of the kayak about 2.5m minimum out of the water,” he recounted. "My kayak and all my tackle weigh 38kg and I weigh 102kg - so you can imagine."

Coetzee said when he landed back in the water, his kayak landed next to him but upside down.

"That was when I saw it was a shark. It was about four metres long. He was just a few feet away from me, biting into the front of the kayak." “We eyeballed each other and I saw him change his attention from the kayak to me."

Coetzee said he then started pulling himself onto the hull of the boat.

“I lay there for about a minute, although it seemed like much longer, waiting for the next hit. But it never came.”

Coetzee said the shark moved away - probably because he did not regard the fibreglass the kayak was made out of as a delicacy.

"He obviously didn’t like the taste of fibreglass and that is why he moved off.”

Coetzee said two of his fishing rods and his sunglasses had not been as lucky as he had - they disappeared during the attack.

2011-12-28T11:27:00.000+10:00

Guest contributor Rhett Thorne from Mad Keen Yak Angling takes us through his lure tips for freshwater lagoon fishing.

The Blue Fox Vibrax Super Minnow

After stocking up with some of the new lures by Rapala brands, I had the pleasure of trying out a few of the smaller models in my local, freshwater lagoon.

The first to be tied on was the Blue Fox, Vibrax Super Minnow, in the orange colour, because it covers the greatest amount of water due to castability and variable depths. Being the first time I’ve ever used a spinner lure, I began with a standard retrieve before switching to a stop and go retrieve around the snags to help entice the fish out of the timber.

After snagging up in over the shallow weed beds, I swiched to the Rapala Original Floating minnow lure in the new Orange Tiger colour. This lure has the ability to work from the surface down, depending on the style of retrieve.

The most productive retrieve I use with this floating style lure is to cast it out into the snags and let it float on the surface. A sharp twich pulls the lure forward, causing it to flick up water and dart just under the surface. The lure then floats back up and the retrieve continues. After the lure is out of the snags and is in relatively open water, a sharp, sub-surface twitching retrieve helps to immitate a wounded baitfish and produce strikes.

While using this retrieve I hooked up on a solid Barramundi that darted towards the snag. The drag of my little Okuma Avenger II reel screamed as the fish zig-zagged through the water. The fish put on a bit of an aerial display jumping through the air before cruising along the bank.

The Rapala Original Floating minnow in the new Orange Tiger colour

The Barra was landed using my Okuma Lip Grips before being taged and released after a few quick pictures.

To say the least my new Okuma combo of the Avenger II 25 reel and Taurino 2-5kg rod performed exceptionally well.

The wounded minnow action of the Rapala Original lure combined with the orange tiger colour proved to be a dynamite combination and by far the best lure, by outfishing the competition. Next time I head down to BCF I will for sure be buying a couple more for the tackle box.

My Okuma Avenger II reel and Taurino rod

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

Celebrity Interview - Prepare Well to Perform

2011-12-26T16:17:00.000+10:00

Antonis loved fishing and soccer from
an early age.

Exclusive Fishmax Interview

Terry Antonis first received media attention in Australia when he was 10 years old winning a football talent competition on a Channel 7 television show, and he's been described as "one of the most outstanding young players that I have seen" and "of immense talent without a doubt." Now he's making his mark in the midfield with Sydney FC in the A-League, but as well as soccer, the teenage sensation has also been fishing since his very early years. Terry talks fishing exclusively with Fishmax in this interview.

FM: What’s your earliest fishing memory?

Fishing with my family off the wharf under the Spit Bridge in Sydney

FM: Where is your favourite fishing spot?

The Spit Bridge on Sydney’s Northern Beaches is still my favourite fishing spot

FM: Your best fishing story?

When I was younger I was fishing with my uncle and grandpa and I was standing on the back of the boat fishing. My uncle thought it would be funny to move the boat forward and I fell off the back of the boat with my rod in my hand

FM: Favourite fish recipe?

I love catching a fish and then cooking it on the BBQ, wrapped in foil with some olive oil, salt and herbs.

FM: What’s the biggest fish you’ve caught?

The biggest fish I’ve ever caught was a 4kg bream

Preparation the key in soccer and fishing

FM: How often do you go fishing?

I manage to go fishing about once a month but it depends on when I get some time off training and playing football with Sydney FC.

FM: Where is the most exotic place you’ve been fishing?

I’ve never really been anywhere exotic fishing but the best place I’ve been was off Sydney Heads.

FM: Do you have a fishing tip you’re willing to share?

You have to prepare well if you are going to catch anything.

For more Terry Antonis News and news, fixtures etc, visit the official Sydney FC website.

words: Stevo Perry Pics: Terry Antonis' personal albums & Getty Images

Merry Fishmas!

2011-12-23T16:28:00.000+10:00

The staff and contributors at Fishmax would like to wish you all a fantastic christmas break!

Even the Big Man Likes to Fish!

We'll be back next year with more great fishing stories, features, giveaways and interviews and a couple of brand new ideas we're sure you'll love. In the mean time we hope your summer fishing adventures are fruitful and your travels safe.

Merry Christmas and tight lines!

Celebrity Fishing Interview - No looking back for Nick Carle

2011-12-19T15:57:00.000+10:00

Carle Catches Marlin

Exclusive Fishmax Interview

A-leaguer Nick Carle, came to a lot of people's attention when he won the Johnny Warren Medal in 2007 while at Newcastle, but there is no looking back for the attacking midfielder who has overcome his injuries of last year to help Sydney FC climb the rankings this season.

A keen fishermen since his youth, 30-year-old Carle took a few minutes to speak to Fishmax about his other passion, fishing.

FM: What’s your earliest fishing memory?

My earliest fishing memory is fishing as a kid when I was on holidays at The Entrance

FM: Where is your favourite fishing spot?

Jervis Bay is my favourite fishing spot when I am fishing with my brother in law but I love heading up to The Entrance with my kids.

FM: Your best fishing story?

I caught an 80kg Striped Marlin when I was fishing off Jervis Bay few years ago. It took me 90 minutes to land it and it is now mounted on the wall in my garage at home.

FM: Favourite fish recipe (either describe the dish or give the recipe if you prefer)?

My Mother in law cooks an awesome salt and pepper squid if we come home with some squid from fishing.

Carle is an enormous asset for Sydney FC

FM: What’s the biggest fish you’ve caught?

That would easily be the 80kg Marlin

FM: How often do you go fishing?

I go fishing probably 6 or 7 seven times a year as I am pretty busy with training, playing and promotional commitments at Sydney FC.

FM: Where is the most exotic place you’ve been fishing?

I went fishing off the reef near Port Douglass when I was on holidays a few years ago.

FM: Do you have a fishing tip you’re willing to share?

I am far from a professional fisherman and the only tip I can give people is make sure you look behind you before casting out. That can hurt!

For the latest news on Sydney FC and Nick Carle, click here.

Words: Stevo Perry Pics: Nick Carle's personal albums

Get out past the breakers

2011-12-19T12:36:00.000+10:00

(click to enlarge)

We just had to share this great photo sent in to us by one of our readers. Fantastic display of good old Aussie initiative and a great way to get out past the breakers when surf fishing.

Big (flat) fish!

2011-12-17T15:28:00.000+10:00

Englishman catches huge stingray in South America

Ok, it's a ray, not a fish, but we couldn't help but share these amazing photos of fishing journalist Jeremy Wade with a 127 kg short tailed stingray caught near Buenes Aires in Argentina. The stingray is a River Stingray (Potamotrygon brachyura), native to northern, central and eastern South America, living in rivers that drain into the Caribbean, and into the Atlantic as far south as the Río de la Plata in Argentina.

Wade who hosts an English fishing TV show fought the ray for four hours. It was so big he couldn't land it in his boat and had to tow it shore.

Watch a video on the story here:

River stingrays are almost circular in shape, and range in size from 25 centimetres (9.8 in) in diameter, to the Short-tailed river stingray, which grows up to 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) in diameter. Most species are brownish or greyish and often have distinctive spotted or mottled patterns, but a few species are largely blackish with contrasting white spots.

River Stingrays have a venomous caudal sting, and are one of the most feared freshwater fishes in the region, sometimes more feared than piranhas and electric eels. However, they are not dangerous unless stepped on or otherwise threatened.

No Boat this Christmas?

2011-12-15T14:57:00.000+10:00

If you're without a boat for whatever reason this summer, then get out and talk to the boys and girls at Boab Boat Hire.

Boab Boat Hire provides you with an easy, affordable and safe option when it’s time for you to get out on the water and their selection of well maintained, environmentally friendly hire boats come equipped for you on a trailer or already launched and ready to go starting from just $215 a day.

Whether it’s inshore or offshore fishing, Boab Boat Hire has got the boat for you and with 21 locations nation wide, you'll have your pick of some of the best fishing in the country!

Thanks to Boab Hire, we've got two gift vouchers worth $150 each to give away to two lucky Fishmax readers. Simply complete your name and email address and tell us why hiring a boat is better than owning for your chance to win.

The small print: competition closes Midnight Friday December 23, 2011. Free to enter. One entry per person. Winners drawn at random. Prize not transferable of exchangable for cash. Judges decision is final. By entering this competition you agree to receive emails from Fishmax including our newsletter, but you may unsubscribe at any time. We take your privacy seriously, we will never send you SPAM or sell your email address or other personal details.

Beer the Fishos Drink

2011-12-14T16:51:00.000+10:00

Ok, fishermen (and women) drink all sorts of beer, but here's a brand we reckon is custom made for fishos. Bottled in 330ml PET (plastic) bottles with a smooth flavour, Brass Belgium Lager and Brass Belgium Pilsner are beers you could drink all day (responsibly of course).

Genuine 100% imported Belgium beer, this will be an ideal treat for the Christmas hols or even a gift for a mate who enjoys the good stuff on the boat.

While some beer drinkers might be put off by the idea of drinking from a plastic bottle, we found the taste great and the fact that the bottles are recycable, lighter than glass (8kg for a carton instead of 14) and of course, unbreakable means that for us this is a no-brainer this summer on the boat or when camping particularly.

You can buy Brass Belgium Beer for about $40 a carton at leading retailers including Dan Murphy's or click here for stockists.

Sebile Splasher, Barra and Tarpon

2011-12-12T09:56:00.000+10:00

Guest contributor Clayton Nicholls talks gear and tactics for CQ Barramundi and Tarpon.

It was late In the afternoon, a few of my Gramma mates and myself met with a couple of boys from TCC(the cathedral college). We had the common goal, try for fish such as Barramundi and Tarpon on the surface.

I decided to make use of my Sebile lures and show off how top notch they really are. It was a slow start for my mate as his okuma baitcaster combo wasn’t working so he changed to his 1-3kg spin gear eventually, fortunately I already had mine out and going with a tarpon down on my Sebile splasher 52.

Once the fish got excited it was great, the best part was Tarpon have such soft mouths the hooks normally fall out. That was great news for everyone as each cast it would get hammered more than once and then something would finally hook up and the throw the hooks at the bank so all you had to do was cast out again. This happened most of the time but they hit the lure with so much force sometimes they hook up on their gills or eye socket or even in their side so the pliers and lip grips were handy.

The end of the day came and most of us achieved our goal, to catch fish.

My best mate got way up into the action with his light gear, my mate from TCC that works at the local tackle world cast about 3 lures into the tree and probably lost more, the other TCC guy claimed to have caught a Barra but there is no photo so I cannot put it up. Out of all the Sebile splasher showed every lure up. Lure fishing isn’t as easy as it may seem one of my mates didn’t get a single fish, it goes to show quality is better than quantity.

GEAR OF CHOICE:

Shimano Stradic Ci4 1000, 4 pound braid, Struwick sic stik pro 1-3kg

Sebile Splasher, Sebile Stickshad, Sebile Bonga Minnow

TACTICS:

The lure was used on a slow retrieve with regular bloops, more subtle bloops were used if the lure was being retrieved slower.

When surface luring do not try to hook the fish

Words and pics: Clayton Nicholls. You can read more from Clayton at his blog.

Fly Fishing in the Indian Ocean

2011-12-08T20:12:00.000+10:00

Bonefish, Permit and Trevally all make great fishing, and the guys at Fly Castaway love catching them on the fly. Check out this great vision taken at St. Brandons Atoll in the Indian Ocean.

St Brandon's Atoll (also called Cargados Carajos Shoals) is a group ofover 50 small islands (total land area of less than 1 square mile), islets,coral ridges and vast sand flats on an extended reef in the Indian Ocean,situated 268 nautical miles north-east of Mauritius. Many anglers have beencomparing St. Brandon's Atoll to "the way the Seychelles used to be"with a fishery which is virtually untapped. Another spot to add to our bucket list!

FlyCastaway specializes in guiding groups of dedicated anglers to various exotic destinations in Africa and the Indian & Atlantic Ocean Islands around the continent. To find out more, click here.

When Marlin Attack - 250 Kg Marlin Stabs Boy in Face

2011-12-07T08:22:00.000+10:00

Fishing can be a dangerous business, but thankfully most of us get bye with just the occassional hook jab and stiff muscles.

Not so lucky American teenager Stephen Schultz. Check out this video clip is from the feature story on Animal Planet’s series, “Untamed and Uncut.”

Schultz and his family were fishing off of the coast of Panama when he went a round with a marlin and came off worse for it. Schultz had a 250 kg (600 lb) marlin on the line and near the boat, when the fish spontaneously leapt into the air toward the fisherman. The bill of the fish entered directly into Schultz’s open mouth, piercing the back of his throat, breaking his nasal cavity and slicing through and out the side of his cheek.

Incredibly, the chest of the fish hit the back of the boat, stopping it’s forward progress just enough to prevent the bill of fish from piercing straight through the back of Schultz’s head.

Stephen Schultz was medi-vac'd to a Panama City hospital about 100 miles away. Amazingly, the teen made a full recovery, healing without even a scar.

Have the kids been good?

2011-12-06T20:43:00.000+10:00

Santa brings gifts to good little fisher-boys and girls

Have the kids been good? Well whether or not they have been, you know you're going to have to play Santa and get them something, and rest assured, unless they are as fishing crazy as you, the missus is not going to let you put a Sebile S& S Splasher in the stocking for little Reggie or a Waeco Cool Ice Esky under the tree for Regina.

Lucky for you, your mates at FishMax are here to help with some hot tips on the best gifts for the kiddies this Christmas. Whether you've got a game boy or a little princess, there is bound to be something in our Christmas gift guide which will suit your kids (other than a Plano 758 Tacklebox of course!)

Not My Favourite Popper?

2011-12-06T14:43:00.000+10:00

No fisherman likes loosing a lure, even a cheapy. But when you're fishing top line lures, even Steve "Starlo" Starling doesn't want to to see his lure, or his catch, disappear. Checkout this great vision of a "lure thief" that Steve and his wife encountered in NT.

Here's what they have to say about the encounter:

It was a typical November day. The temperature monitor tripped 39 degrees on "The Bong" before noon... Sunday night's terrific thunderstorm seemed to have dumped most of its payload square on the wetlands surrounding our chosen fishing spot and by 9am, the resulting humidity had our eyes streaming as sunscreen melted into them. Yep... it was going to be a traditional build-up fishing day.

As we pushed through the fast advancing frontline of lilies, tarpon tailed and swirled everywhere. The early signs promised more activity than we'd seen on Corroboree all year. As we lowered the electric at a likely spot, pulled out the fly rods and started working the surface for 'toga and barra, the sun started punching through the trees.

We hadn't been fishing for more than twenty minutes before we noticed a large saltwater croc approaching us from well upstream. Being breeding season, we were on high alert. When the beast was not twenty metres away, Steve hooked up to a tarpon.

"Not my popper!" he started muttering as he quickly stripped to get the fish in before the croc (which had dramatically changed direction and made a beeline for the hapless fish) could crunch it. He succeeded, but only the once.

Two casts later and Steve hooked up again. This time, the croc left nothing to chance. I was videoing the magnificent creature at the time and managed to capture the attack on film. Whilst the recorded soundtrack is a very repetitive "Oh My God" and not much more from me, it is punctuated by Steve's "Not my popper... NOT MY POPPER!"

We did get the popper back, but in that short exchange I managed to pick up a stalker. The croc became quite obviously fixated on my position (I'd sat down where I'd been fishing on the back casting deck so that I was more stable when the croc got close). His gaze was piercing and I could feel myself being sized up for dinner. When he stopped being interested in Steve's hooked fish, I got really worried. That's when I asked to move spots. You never can be too careful, especially with the recent rise in attacks on anglers!

As we started the motor and engaged the throttle, the crocodile's body rose in the water and turned towards the back of the boat. When we accelerated, he moved to full speed! I don't think I've been so scared in a long time... I dropped the camera and dived forward to the middle of the boat.

Whilst this croc didn't have things go his way, it's a timely warning to all fishos to be even more vigilant than we are throughout the rest of the year. The crocs at this time are not shy, they are not retiring and they have a burning appetite.

(from Youtube - to follow the Starling's youtube channel, click here ).

What do women really want (for Christmas)?

2011-12-05T19:55:00.000+10:00

She'll be even more exited when
she sees its the Shimano TLD15

Many a fishing trip topic of conversation revolves around just exactly what our wives, mothers, girlfriends really want from us. Well we can't help you with that, but we can give you some ideas of what they want for Christmas! Check out our What Women Want Gift Guide to find the perfect Christmas present for the lady in your life.

Unfortunately not all of us have women in our lives who think the ultimate Christmas gift is a new Rod or even better a Kevlacat , so if that includes you, you won't go wrong with our gift guide. Read it here.

Hot Tips on Hot Snapper from Jarvis Walker

2011-12-04T19:26:00.000+10:00

After some hot snapper action this Summer? According to Jarvis Walker, this year the place to be is Whyalla, SA on the the western shores of the upper Spencer Gulf. Big snapper are the draw card for this region, and it rarely disappoints, with fish to 10kg available with more regularity than many other reputed snapper grounds and November to February sees snapper fishing in the Spencer Gulf at its best.

Wyalla fishing accommodation ranges from self-contained options, to caravan parks, hotels and motels, and cosy bed and breakfasts. While you're there dream of the fortunes made in the early days during an Iron Knob mine tour and see the various growth stages of Murray cod at the Stuart High School Murray Cod Enterprises aquaculture venture.

Jarvis Walker also suggest Melbourne’s Port Phillip Bay is worth the long wait at the boat ramp in November if you want to go after Snapper in Victoria and Snapper also bend rods consistently off Coffs Harbour, NSW.

Win WASP Bags with FishMax

2011-12-04T13:57:00.001+10:00

At FishMax we love our WASP Bags. WASP Bags are completely water and sand proof bags from a great Aussie company and in our view, they're essential kit for any Aussie fisho.

Some things just shouldn’t get wet (phones, iPods,cameras, your spare undies), however it can be very hard to keep those things dry when you’re out enjoying the great outdoors, fishing and doing other man stuff. WASP Bags are perfect for taking things like phones and cameras on your boat without fear of them being ruined by water or sand and the two sizes, Baby ($24.99) and King ($39.99) means there is one perfect for you whether your out for just a few hours or even a few nights. And now, by popular demand there's the Mega WASP for $79.99 to keep even more gear waterproof.

The company is so confident in their product that the WASP Bags come with a lifetime 100% moneyback guarantee.

WASP Bags are available for purchase online at www.waspbags.com.au. All orders are shipped within 24 hours, so WASP Bags will make an ideal last minute Christmas gift and even better, thanks to Chris at WASP Bags, we've got 5 WASP Bag Combos valued at $65 each to give away.

Simply complete your name and email address and tell us why you need a WASP Bag for your chance to win.

The small print: competition closes Midnight Monday December 19, 2011. Free to enter. One entry per person. Winners drawn at random. Prize not transferable of exchangable for cash. Judges decision is final. By entering this competition you agree to receive emails from Fishmax including our newsletter, but you may unsubscribe at any time. We take your privacy seriously, we will never send you SPAM or sell your email address or other personal details.

Count Down to the Big Red Man

2011-12-02T19:15:00.001+10:00

Santa gives some hot tips on fishing the summer whiting

It's almost time for the fat man in the red suit to put his rods aside for a night and deliver goodies all over the word.

Unfortunately in our experience the wife and kids will not be satisfied simply giving you a gift card to your favourite tackle shop, so like we do every year, we've prepared a handy "blokes gift guide" which you can leave lying around with your desired gift circled.

And of course, it's not all about you - no doubt you have dads, brothers & best mates to buy for, some of whom (shock horror) don't fish, so our gift guide will mean your decision making is easy. Take a look at our gift guide for blokes right here.

Protect Your Boat & Trailer This Summer - Product Spotlight

2011-12-02T11:43:00.000+10:00

It's a sad truth that there are low life scum out there who will pinch a man's (or woman's) boat and trailer if you don't take security measures and unfortunately with the peak holiday boating season just around the corner, the incidence of boat and trailer theft increases. One of the best and simplest ways to protect yourself is with a trailer lock.

There are various versions of trailer locks on the market, but one we like is the Australian-designed Hitch Helmet as it has a patented dual locking system that not only deters theft, but doubles as a safety device to prevent trailers from disconnecting while on the move.

Hitch Helmet covers the connecting mechanism between the towbar, towball, and trailer hitch, and simply locks around the trailer hitch when the trailer is not connected to the vehicle.

Manufacturer/distributor and Oceanic Trailers director Phil Peterson reckons the Hitch Helmet is virtually indestructible.

“The locking strength and towing capabilities of Hitch Helmet have been fully tested by numerous automotive authorities and law enforcement bodies, including the Water Police, and received the best results of any trailer lock on the market,” Mr Peterson told FishMax.

Insurance provider Club Marine supports the use of the Hitch Helmet as an anti-theft device and Peterson says individual policies may qualify for a waiver of the trailer boat theft excess, so check with your insurer.

Constructed from anti-corrosive material the Hitch Helmet has an RRP of $149 and is available from selected marine retail outlets or can purchased direct from the manufacturer, Oceanic Trailers – 1300 852 404 or http://www.oceanictrailers.com.au/.

Win an Amazing Darwin Fishing Holiday for you and 3 mates.

2011-12-01T14:51:00.000+10:00

NT and Barramundi: A match made in heaven

Want to fish the NT Runoff for Barra in 2012? This year the Barramundi runoff in the Northern Territory is expected from March to May 2012 and a lot of old hands are saying its expected to be a good one.

Thanks to Travelodge and FishMax you can win an amazing 3 day stay in Darwin for you and three mates valued at over $3000. An ideal base for the NT fishing trip of a lifetime!

Exclusive to FishMax, TravelodgeHotels is offering one lucky winner three nights accommodation for four people(2 x Guest Room) at Travelodge Mirambeena Resort Darwin -the ideal base for day fishing trips from Darwin or a few days R&R before a live on board or longer fishing adventure. Simply complete the entry form below to go in the draw:

Mirambeena Resort Darwin ideal fishing base

Terms & Conditions

competition closes Midnight Friday December 23, 2011.
Prize is not refundable, non- endorsable or non-transferable.
Bookings are subject to availability and seasonal embargo periods apply. Travelodge Hotels prize is for three consecutive nights’accommodation for four adults in two guest rooms at a Travelodge Mirambeena Resort Darwin.
Prize does not include any extra charges (ie, mini-bar, in-house movie, telephone usage, etc). Bookings should be made in advance to avoid disappointment. Additional spending money, meals, insurance, taxes, passports, visas, travel to and from the Travelodge Hotel and all other ancillary costs are the responsibility of the winner. Unless expressly stated, all other expenses become the responsibility of the winner.
In the event that, for any reason whatsoever, a winner does not take an element of the prize at the time stipulated by Travelodge Hotels, then that element of the prize will be forfeited by the winner and cash will not be awarded in lieu of that element. All accommodation on the voucher must be booked simultaneously.
Winners will be issued with a Travelodge Hotel Gift Certificate, valid for 6 months from the date of issue and will not be extended.
Free to enter. One entry per person.
Winners drawn at random. Judges decision is final.
By entering this competition you agree to receive emails from Fishmax including our newsletter, but you may unsubscribe at any time. We take your privacy seriously, we will never send you SPAM or sell your email address or other personal details.

More about Travelodge

Travelodge is proud of consistently offering great value in a friendly environment. Whether it’s for a business trip or leisure, their price per room rates offer comfort and quality at unbeatable value. There are currently 16 Travelodge Hotels across Australia and New Zealand in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Rockhampton, Newcastle, Perth, Darwin, Wellington and Palmerston North.

For more information about Travelodge Hotels or to book, visit: www.travelodge.com.au or www.travelodge.co.nz

Travelodge Hotels – great value, rest assured. www.travelodge.com.au

Travelodge Mirambeena Resort Darwin

Soak up everything that Darwin has to offer from TravelodgeMirambeena Resort Darwin. Located smack bang in the heart of the city’s CBDyou’ll be perfectly positioned to explore near-by galleries, markets andwatering holes. Rest assured sleep comes easily in Travelodge’s great valueresort rooms and self-contained town houses complete with split systemair-conditioning, LCD televisions and in-room movies.

The hotel has a tropicalvibe, featuring two swimming pools – the perfect place to cool down on a hotday. Other facilities include: 24 hour Reception, two spas, children’s paddlingpool, fitness room, parking, tour booking facilities, dry cleaning and laundryservice. Peckish? The onsite restaurant, Treetops, features seasonal Australianmeals and is the perfect spot for a bite to eat loved by locals and guestsalike. Or why not order room service or cook your own in the great outdoors inthe self-catering BBQ area.

More About the Northern Territory Runoff

The NT Runoff occurs at the end of the wet season when the water on the flood plains starts receding bringing all sorts of Barramundi food such as frogs tadpoles and small fish etc and the Barramundi congregate at hot run off locations for what is probably the easiest feed they are going to get all year. Timing of the Runoff does depend on the weather but as a general rule the months of March through to Mid May is Run Off time.

NT fishing locations like Shady Camp, South Alligator River, East Alligator River and the Daly River are all great Runoff Barramundi fishing locations. During the Runoff, these rivers produce some great Barramundi fishing with reports of trophy Barramundi being a daily occurrence.

Images: Tourism NT & Travelodge

Funny Fishing Photo Contest December 2011

2011-11-30T16:17:00.000+10:00

Got a great caption for this funny fishing photo? Send it in for your chance to win a pack containing a FishMax t-shirt valued at $29.95!

(click to enlarge)

Simply post your funny caption in the comments section of this article or on the FishMax facebook page, to go in the running to a FishMax T-Shirt worth $29.95.

Terms and Conditions

Entries close on December 30, 2011. Winner will be contacted by us in early January 2012 and will be announced here on FishMax.com.au.
You may enter as many times as you want.
The winner will receive a FishMax T-Shirt worth $29.95.
Only entries posted in the comments section below or on the fishmax.com.au facebook page will be eligible.
Entries valid for Australian residents only.
The prize is not transferable and not redeemable for cash.
A valid email must be left in order for us to contact you if you win. If the winner cannot be contacted, we will award the prize to the runner-up.
The best entry will be selected by the FishMax.com.au staff. The judges decision is final and no correspondence will be entered in to.

Make sure that when you leave your comment below, you use a google ID or other form of ID as shown in the dropdown box, or if you don't have one of those, choose "anonymous" and enter your name and email address in the comments section, so we can contact you if you win (don't worry, we'll remove you're email address before the comment is published, so no-one else will be able to see it).

A day of Cod and Flathead - Causeway Lake, CQ

2011-11-27T16:00:00.000+10:00

Guest contributor, and Sebile fan, Clayton Nichols talks us through avoiding snags, finding flathead and one of his favourite spots in Central Queensland.

First fish of the day

Bussing down to the sort of local estuary system is a very slow journey but when I got there it was almost low tide, perfect for big cod and nice flathead. My first throw of a placcie landed me a small cod, but they slowly got bigger, all of this in the first few casts in my opinion is a pretty dam good start and landing a fish on the first cast is a great confidence builder for any angler, even a pro.

I changed to one of my favourite lures for fishing the snags, a Sebile Crankster 35Mr, the square shaped bib just bounces over the snags leaving the hooks dangling freely for any cod or flathead sitting next to it which ends in a perfect hook up. This is exactly what my holo greenie coloured Crankster did.

My Big Cod

Every time I cast out there was an eighty percent chance of some nice sized cod, the other twenty precent was flathead and strangely enough moses perch, which my lure hardly appreciated, all three of my holo greenie Cranksters now need new paint jobs thanks to these toothy critters.

Representing Sebile

The tide started to come back in, slowly covering a yabbie flat and in that water were many small whiting, I had my stradic ci4 1000 reel and my okuma xfactor 1-3kg rod. On my stradic was 6 pound braid, on that 4 pound fluoro leader connected by a surgeon knot. Then tide to the 4 pound fluoro was a Sebile splasher 52. This perfectly balanced set up enabled me to cast all the way over and float the lure just above the nosey fish keen to forage for anything on the yabbie flat, one little bloop and straight on the lure went a nice blue nosed sand whiting. As fun as this was it only lasted a good 15 minutes before the flat was covered with water.

Flatty attack

Because my mate and I fish here so often we know where all the rocks on the flat are, and next to those rocks are flathead, how do we know that, on a low tide walk around the estuary and you will find flathead holes, like stingray holes but where the flathead lay, waiting to prey on an unsuspecting fish.

Before I walked over to that side I had a final cast with the Crankster producing a nice kilo and a bit cod, then on the other side, the flathead cam on the chew, with that concluded a very successful day.

Words and pics: Clayton Nicolls. You can read more from Clatyon at his blog.

Girls - Check, Bikinis - Check, Sharks - Hang on one minute!

2011-11-25T07:34:00.001+10:00

According to an American TV news show, in the shark infested waters off the South African coast, women in bikinis are diving with sharks, and its all in the name of science!

video platform video management video solutions video playerThese ladies have been recruited by scientists to show that popular shark myths are mainly bunkem.
According to ABC News (USA) since making it his life's work to demystify sharks, marine biologist Dr. Ryan Johnson has free dived with sharks countless times, he uses bite meters to measure the strength of their jaws and even helped develop silicon "robo-seals" to study the way Great Whites hunt their prey in beautiful Mossel Bay.

But even though dozens of massive sharks spend over half of the year cruising less than a half-mile from some of the most popular beaches in Africa, there has not been a shark attack on humans here in over 20 years.

Johnson is so convinced that sharks are not the mindless man-eaters that he's recruited a small team of "shark angels" to test whether the animals are truly driven into a feeding frenzy by the sight of white flesh, the smell of human blood and urine or the flash of jewelry.

"All of us on this crew are convinced that what we're doing is responsible," Johnson said. "We wouldn't be doing this if we thought we were going to get bit. It's a chance for us to put ourselves on the line and prove our theories."

Swainston's Fishes of Australia

2011-11-24T15:01:00.000+10:00

Oustanding reference guide

Scientist, Artist and Author Roger Swainston says "Over many years I have had the opportunity to see and handle an enormous variety of fishes; always looking at them with one eye as a scientist, the other as an artist… I always return to fishes and remain captivated by their astounding diversity and beauty."

Roger Swainston has taken both his poetic words and his breathtaking artwork in to print with "Swainston’s Fishes of Australia-the complete illustrated guide" from Penguin. This beautiful book makes an outstanding reference guide to Ausralian fish and provides a fascinating overview of the extraordinary diversity of Australia's marine and freshwater fishes, including describing all 346 fish families currently known to be living in Australian waters, and listing the 4500 species that exist within these families.

The book provides an overview of the amazing diversity of these fishes, and an understanding of each species'place in the interconnecting web of Australia's marine and freshwater ecosystems.

One of the most recognised artists of sea creatures Roger Swainston creates many of his illustrations while underwater, where he spends hours observing, photographing and drawing aquatic life forms in their natural environment. Using graphite and plastic on a specially designed underwater drawing board to capture the scene, his awe-inspiring drawings have a perspective and detail not possible to capture with photography - they are so lifelike they seem ready to swim off the page.

Presenting more than 1500 illustrations, alongside information on taxonomy and biology, Roger’s latest book represents the culmination of his life work to date. Swainston’s Fishes of Australia is much more that a reference book for Australia’s remarkable array of aquatic life forms it is a work of art beautifully executed with minute detail.

To look at an extract of this outstanding Australian fish encyclopedia, click here.

you can buy Swainston's Fishes of Australia at leading book stores or online- RRP$125.

Great Tailor Off Noosa

2011-11-22T09:59:00.001+10:00

Tailor are About Right Now in the Noosa Estuary

We wanted to share this photo of reader Jemma L with her Queensland Tailor, caught in the outer Woods Bay near the mouth of the Noosa River, Qld on the week end. Tackle included whole frogmouth pilchards on ganged hooks which proved ideal to catch this lovely Tailor.

Woods Bay is an areay of settled water near the mouth of the Noosa River, Qld and a good place for fish to come in and find food. Anything can show up in Woods Bay at times, from Jacks to Mackerel but Trevally, Queenfish and Tarpon are the mainstays of flyrodders, usually around dusk. Wandering about the bay with flies and lures can produce some good sport.

Reports are that in the Noosa River estuary this week end, Bream, Flathead, Whiting, Tailor and Trevally were very active on the run-in (especially near the top of the tide) so if you're nearby, you migth want to get yourself out there!

Hook 'Em and Shoot 'Em? Only in America

2011-11-14T17:13:00.000+10:00

Rifle or Fishing Rod? It's Both!

We love some of the crazy fishing gear that comes out of the USA. American fishermen just seem to have a knack of coming up with the wackiest and craziest fishing products around. The latest addition to our "only in America" file, is the Ultralight Rifle and Fishing Rod from Mountain View Machine and Welding in Logan Utah.

These nifty rifle and fishing rod combo weighs less than 500g and contains a .22 caliber single-shot bolt-action rifle but wait, there's more! Simply screw the fishing reel onto the pistol grip, and extend the rod from the stock and you've got yourself a survival tool that would beat the Leatherman or Swiss Army Knife hands down [Ed: at least, it would beat them in a gun fight!]

The fishing rod and rifle combo is apparently light and easy to carry, and being made of aluminum and carbon fiber its weather resistant too. This fishing rod/rifle could be yours for just US$425 package, assuming that customs lets it in to the country that is.

Seen a piece of crazy fishing kit? Let us know at readers@fishmax.com.au

Elanda Point Lake Cootharaba Noosa Everglades

2011-11-11T19:45:00.000+10:00

Elanda Point, Qld ideal starting point for the Noosa Everglades

Some of the FishMax team recently took the opportunity for a father and kids week end of camping, boating and a spot of fishing (of course) at the Elanda Point Camp Grounds at Elanda Point, Qld.

Elanda Pt on Lake Cootharaba is at the southern entrance of the Cooloola Section of the Great Sandy National Park and a great gateway to the Noosa Everglades. The Coolooola is at the northern or Noosa end of the Sunshine Coast and is just a couple of hours easy drive from Brisbane but comprises 50,000 hectares of unspoiled tranquility, a coastal wilderness of heathland, everglades and forest watered by streams and dotted by lakes.

Noosa Everglades - home to Australian Bass
Tarpon, Mangrove Jack, Trevally and more

The Elanda Point campgrounds themselves are well maintained, with heaps of space to pitch a tent and plenty of clean showers and toilets and a shop which sells all the essentials in case you arrive without something you need.You can choose to pitch right up close to Lake Cootharaba, but because a wind often picks up across the lake, we'd recommend that, like us, you get one of the sites a little back from the lake behind a stand of trees which provide both privacy and shelter.

The only thing that was perhaps a little disappointing was the fact that open fires are not permitted, so no roasting marshmellows over the open fire. Don't be daunted by what at first appears to be the large number of rules posted about the camp site, as any well behaved and sensible group of campers will have no trouble complying and it's just unfortunate that the operators feel the need to have so many rules. Obviously there have been some selfish and unthinking campers in the past that make this necessary.

Lake Cootharaba itself is ideal for the littlies as it is very shallow and so toddlers and the under tens can enjoy splashing and swimming in safety. The shallow water from the launch site does mean however that you will have to walk your boat out a couple of hundred metres before putting the outboard down and even canoes must be dragged the last 30 or so metres in to shore.

Elanda Point is the ideal place to introduce kids to
canoe and kayak fishing

Canoes, Tinnies and everything else you need can be hired on site from the Elanda Point Canoe Company.

In terms of fishing, Lake Cootharaba itself is nothing special, with bream and mullet being the primary catch, although there are occassional reports of nice flathead. The Noosa Everglades however are reputedly good bass grounds (one of the historic sites, Harry's Hut, is a former bass fishing camp of a local pharmacist) and also plays host to catfish, trevally, mangrove jack and tarpon and of course mud crabs.

Bookings are not necessary but for camp information and equipment hire, contact Elanda Point Canoe Company Phone (07) 54853165 Fax (07) 54853634.

Sunscreen Giveaway - Be a Sunsmart Fisherman this Summer

2011-11-09T10:12:00.000+10:00

The team over at the Sunsmart want to make sure you're getting the sun smart message loud and clear, and have asked us to remind everyone that you can download the free SunSmart App (with Sunscreen Calculator) Download from their website.

As an added incentive, be the first to download the the SunSmart App and email us at readers@fishmax.com.au and tell us what you think, and we'll send you a 1L pump pack of Cancer Council Sunscreen valued at $29.95 courtesy of Sunsmart and the Cancer Council.

85 Year Old Catches Marlin

2011-11-08T10:12:00.002+10:00

ABC today reported on an 85 year old woman who landed a Marlin off Cooktown Qld on the week-end.

85-year-old Connie Laurie caught the 385-kilogram black marlin during a fishing charter trip in North Queensland.

85 Year Old Fisherwoman Catches Marlin off Cook Town

Mrs Laurie, a great grandmother who has been fishing her whole life said catching the big black marlin is something she will never forget. Mrs Laurie said that "I certainly didn't feel 85 when I was bringing it in, I was too busy concentrating on keeping it on and getting it into the boat,".

While this is the first time she has caught a marlin, Mrs Laurie is a keen fisherwoman and plans to continue fishing for many years to come.

Connie Laurie shows you're never to old to catch big black marlin

Amazing Fishing Stories

2011-11-01T16:42:00.000+10:00

Full of Great Fishing Stories

One of the great bonds the word wide brotherhood of fishermen share is the love of a cracking good fishing yarn. Many of these fishing stories are passed around by word of mouth, but occassionally a writer collects some of the best and writes these fishing stories down in a book, and Amazing Fishing Stories: Incredible Tales from Stream to Open Sea by Paul Knight is the latest of these.

Knight is an Englishman and the stories in this fishing yarns book are written from that perspective, but it's a rivetting read for the Aussie fisherman none the less. There’s stories from every style of fishing, from themagic touch of the fly to blood and thunder battles with monsters of the deep.

The publisher's blurb summarises the stories - "Shiver at ghostlytales from the river bank and marvel at incredible exploits with rod and line.There are stories of the ones that got away as well as catches that setrecords. Discover the macabre ground bait used in some corners of the world andrelive the excitement of that first thrilling tug on the line. Encounter thewide array of wildlife that can come between you and your catch, includingbears, birds of prey and killer whales. The adventures of fishermen youngand old, novice and experienced are shared, ensuring there is an anecdote foreveryone."

There’s a wonderfully broad array of sport covered by Amazing Fishing Adventures by Paul Knight including:

· Salmon

· Sea Trout

· Conger

· Shark

· Mahseer

· Tuna

· Permit

· Tarpon

· Marlin

· Bonefish

And even though he is English, the locations for these fishing adventures range right around theworld, with destinations such as:

· Australia

· Nova Scotia

· Great Britain

· Venezuela

· Russia

· Caribbean

· Alaska

· India

· Florida

· Africa

In this collection of fishing stories, Paul Knight hasbrought together a treasure trove of stories from a wide array of sources andinvested them with a drama and excitement that makes this great reading forall fishermen, everywhere. and it would make a great gift, particularly for the older fisherman.

Knight himself is a lifelongfishing enthusiast and has worked within the sport all his life. He is Chief Executiveof the Salmon and Trout Association and has written for a range of fishingmagazines for more than 20 years.

Thanks to the publishers, Wiley Nautical, we have 5 copies of Amazing Fishing Stories: Incredible Tales from Stream to Open Sea by Paul Knight to give away. Simply send an email to readers@fishmax.com.au with the book's title in the subject line before 5.00pm 15 November 2011 to go in the draw.

Amazing FishingAdventures: Incredible Tales from Stream to Open Sea

By Paul Knight Published by Wiley Nautical, November 2011ISBN: 978-1-1199-7033-0, Hardback,AU$27.95

2011-10-28T14:00:00.000+10:00

"Don't tell fish stories where the people know you;
but particularly, don't tell them where they know the fish."
Mark Twain

Holy Sht or Bull Sht: Catfish eats basketball?

2011-10-27T16:36:00.000+10:00

Last week we published some amazing fishing photos sent in to us by FishMax regular Robbie, which claimed to be a large catfish in Lake St Mary's (in the USA) chomping down on a basketball.

According to the story, the fish bit the basketball but then couldn't let go and had to be rescued. But is this amazing fishing story bullsh*t or holy sh*t?

Like so many of these stories, it seems to be a bit of both. The photos certainly weren't taken just a few weeks ago, and certainly not at Lake St Mary's near Dayton Ohio. In fact, it appears that these photos have been circulating in the internet for years. However, the photos themselves are real, and an event similar to the one did occur, but at Sandalwood Lake in Kansas on 28 May 2004!

According to a report in the Wicheta Eagle newspaper published on 30 May that year, Wichita resident Bill Driver was standing on the deck of his home overlooking a lake when he saw an eight-inch ball bobbing in the water. "Noticing the ball wasn't floating normally," Pearce wrote, "Driver wandered to his dock for a closer look. A catfish had its mouth stuck around the ball." The fish couldn't dive and appeared to be in distress, so, using a knife handed to him by his wife, Driver poked a hole in the ball and deflated it. The 50-pound fish swam away and is presumably doing well in deeper waters far from the dangers of human civilization. No idea why someone decided to change the story to Lake St Mary's!

And if that wasn't crazy enough, it seems this isn't the only time it's happened. In 2008, German policy from Bavaria reported that that a 2 metre long (6 1/2-foot-long) catfish was found dead in a canal, floating on the surface of the water with a blue-and-white football (soccerball) in its mouth!

If nothing else, these stories do appear to be proof that catfish will eat just about anything!

If you've seen a big fish photo, crazy fishing video, wierd fishing tail or tall fishing story that sounds too good to be true send it in to holy@fishmax.com.au and our team of reporters and experts will investigate and tell you whether they are truely "Holy Sh*t" or "Bull Sh*t.

Timely Warning for Aussie Fishers

2011-10-26T15:44:00.000+10:00

Too much ultraviolet (UV) radiation can cause sunburn, premature ageing, eye damage and skin damage leading to skin cancer. Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. At least two in every three Australians will develop skin cancer before the age of 70. When fishing without appropriate sun protection you can be exposed to a double dose of UV radiation, both directly from the sun and reflected of sand and water, further increasing your risk of skin cancer.

Prevention is better than cure Skin cancer is one of the most preventable cancers. SunSmart Manager, Sue Heward, said: “If you’re planning a fishing trip, try to reduce your UV exposure by placing yourself undercover or going early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Make sure to wear protective clothing, such as long sleeved, collared shirts, broad brimmed hats, sunglasses and regularly apply SPF 30+ sunscreen on the remaining skin that is still exposed.”

Top tips for fishing enthusiasts:Check the UV level for your area daily on sunsmart.com.au, the weather section of your daily paper or on your smartphone (available on the free SunSmart app). During the sun protection times, remember to:

1.      Slip on sun protective clothing that covers as much of your skin as possible.
2.      Slop on 30+ broad spectrum sunscreen and reapply every two hours. Don't use sunscreen to extend your time in the sun.
3.      Slap on a wide brimmed hat that provides good protection for your face and neck.
4.      Seek shade under a tree especially during the middle of the day when UV levels are most intense.
5.      Slide on sunglasses. Make sure they meet Australian Standards.

Sunscreen safety tips It’s important to remember that sunscreen is just one way you can protect yourself from the harmful effects of the sun. Research shows most Australians don't apply enough sunscreen, sometimes halving the level of sun protection stated on the label. Always apply generously to clean, dry skin 20 minutes before going out into the sun and re-apply every 2 hours, or more often after sweating or toweling dry.

The average-sized adult should apply more than half a teaspoon of sunscreen to each arm and the face/neck (including ears), and just over one teaspoon to each leg, the front of the body and the back of the body. Keep a 30+ broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen pump pack in the car so it is easily accessible.

Find out how much sunscreen you should apply by using the sunscreen calculator on the SunSmart app. The calculator provides customised feedback on the amount of sunscreen you need per application, based on your size and clothing cover.

For best protection, use sunscreen to cover the skin that is not already covered by your protective clothing, hat and sunnies, and stay in the shade wherever possible.
Early detectionUnlike many other forms of cancer, skin cancer is often visible – making it easier to detect in the early stages. Early detection is crucial if skin cancer is to be cured.

Ms Heward, said; "It is important to look for early signs of skin cancer. Check your skin regularly using a hand-held mirror to check the skin on your back and the back of your neck – or ask someone else to have a look for you. If you notice any changes in your skin or you are concerned, see their doctor.”

All Australians should get to know their skin and check it regularly. For men over 40 years of age and those who spend a lot of time outdoors this should be at least with each change of season. Check all of your skin, not just sun-exposed areas. See your doctor if you notice:

a new spot, lump or unusual freckle
a mole, sunspot or sore that does not heal
a spot that looks different from other spots around it
a spot that has changed colour, size or shape over a few weeks or months
a spot that has an irregular border or becomes itchy or bleeds.

SunSmart offers a range of information and resources to help you enjoy the sun safely. For more information visit the SunSmart website http://www.sunsmart.com.au/ or call (03) 9635 5148.

Kayak Fishing World Championships in Australia

2011-10-25T16:02:00.000+10:00

This week-end coming sees the first Daiwa-Hobie Kayak Fishing World Championshipsbeing held on the Camden Haven River and the Hastings River, Port Macquarie, New South Wales.

The kayak fishing championships, will see anglers from five nations for the prestige of becoming the first Daiwa Hobie Kayak Fishing World Champion angler.

If you're in the Port Macquarie area, there are two great times to check out what is happening. The start of the day at 7am Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 of October. From here you'll be able to see 67 kayak fishers head out for the day, a great sight as the sun comes up. Then later in the day buy yourself a sausage sandwich and a drink from the Taking Point Surf Life Saving Club members from 1:45pm and watch the kayaks return by 2pm. They bring their catch back live and weigh them in. After the Sunday weigh-in the AUSTRALIAN and WORLD CHAMPIONS will be announced.

Hobie Cat Australasia in conjunction with Daiwa Australia, announce that eighteen competitors from five nations, Singapore, Thailand, South Korea, USA and Australia, will compete in the inaugural Hobie world kayak fishing championships. The tournament will be held in Australia, on the New South Wales mid north coast, starting on October 27 at Camden Haven on the Camden Haven River, moving to the Hastings River at Port Macquarie on October 29 and 30.

The event is the concept of Steve Fields, General Manager of Hobie Cat Australasia. Steve is a former sailing world and national champion in multiple Hobie Cat Catamaran classes.

Day one of the International competition will be a standalone event. However, on the starting signal, at 7am on the weekend of October 29 - 30, the spectacular sight of 67 pedal powered Hobie MirageDrive® Pro Angler kayaks will leave the beach. The world championship competitors will be joined on the water by grand finalists from the 13 rounds, held throughout Australia, of the Daiwa Hobie ABT Kayak Fishing Series.

Live weigh-ins of the catches will take place on the waterfront grassed area at the Water's Edge Boutique Hotel, Buller Street Port Macquarie, from 2pm on each of the three days of the world championship competition.

For more information, visit the official Kayak World Championship website.

Holy Sht or Bull Sht? Catfish Caught on Basket Ball

2011-10-24T16:36:00.000+10:00

Is this fish photo real or a fake?

At FishMax we love receiving amazing and hard to believe fishing photos (got some? Then send 'em in!)

Today's hard to believe photos of a catfish eating a basketball come from regular reader Robbie, attached to the following story:

+++++++++++

A guy who lives at Lake Saint Marys

(60 miles north of Dayton , OH ) saw a ball bouncing

around kind of strange in the lake and went to

investigate.

It turned out to be a flathead catfish that had

apparently tried to swallow a basketball which

became stuck in its mouth!!

The fish was totally exhausted from trying to

dive, but unable to, because the ball would

always bring him back up to the surface.

The guy tried numerous times to get the ball out,

but was unsuccessful. He finally had his wife cut

the ball in order to deflate it and release the hungry
catfish.

You probably wouldn't have believed this,

if you hadn't seen the following pictures:

+++++++++++

So is this photo of a catfish eating a basketball a fake? We'll get our team of fishing investigators on to it and report back soon as to whether this crazy fish photo is Holy Sh*t or Bull Sh*t!

Don't forget, if you've seen a big fish photo, crazy fishing video, wierd fishing tail or tall fishing story that sounds too good to be true send it in to holy@fishmax.com.au and our team of reporters and experts will investigate and tell you whether they are truely "Holy Sh*t" or "Bull Sh*t.

Is Bigger Better? This guy thinks so?

2011-10-24T15:03:00.000+10:00

Some of us believe that small fish are the sweetest, others say it's the size of the fight in the fish, not the fish in the fight, but some think that its all about the numbers - Martin Hodkinson certainly thinks so.

UK Man Joins 100-100 Fishing Club

Hodgkinson, a 51-year-old builder from Wolverhamton is reported to have has travelled more than 100,000 miles (160,000km) across the world over five years on his remarkable quest to catch the biggest monster fish on the planet.

Hodkginson travelled to some of the remotest spots in Thailand, Mexico, Gambia and the Dominican Republic in his quest to enter the exclusive "100 - 100" club - admission only open to those who have caught 100 different species over 100lbs (45.4 kg).

To make it in to the 100-100 fishing club, Hodgkinson racked up an impressive list of species caught, including a 1,000lb saw fish, a 450lb grouper fish, a 400lb lemon shark. as well as catfish, arapaimas, stingrays and tarpin.

His final fish to make the club - a 200lb Mekong catfish caught in Thailand this month.

2011-10-22T14:01:00.000+10:00

"There are two types of fisherman
those who fish for sport and those who fish for fish"
Anon

Biggest Fish Ever Caught By British Female Fisher

2011-10-19T14:47:00.000+10:00

UK female fisher catches record

Alexa Turness, 28 from Holland Park, London has entered the record books when fishing with her boyfriend on the River Segre in Spain. Turner's claim to fame - she landed a 215lb (97.5kg), 8 foot (2.44m) long Wels Catfish - reporteredly the biggest freshwater fish ever landed by a British woman angler.

Record Catfish caught in Spain

While the fish weighed almost twice as much as Turness herself, and was the biggest fish caught on the trip, her boyfriend didn't miss out completely, bringing in a 189 lb (85.7 kg) wopper himself.

Miss Turness, an events director, said: ‘My boyfriend is really into fishing so when we got together seven or eight years ago I got into it too. It was a case of go fishing with him or don’t see him.’

‘I just had to hold on for my life,’ she said. ‘It took about 30 minutes, but I wasn’t going to give up. I was amazed when I saw how big it was.’
She added: ‘My boyfriend is quite gutted. We took it in turns on the rods, and this just happened to be my turn.’ The previous record for the biggest freshwater fish caught by a British woman was held by Sheila Penfold, 56, from Wandsworth, South London, who caught a 214lb (97.2 kg) catfish in Spain last year.The Wels catfish also called Sheatfish, is found in wide areas of central, southern, and eastern Europe, and near the Baltic and Caspian Seas.

Fly Fishing Western

2011-10-17T14:41:00.000+10:00

There are some crazy guys doing some crazy fishing out there, and this video shows some of the toughest fly fishing we've seen for a while. And it's not just the fish, but also the crazy neighbours. How often do you come across gun toting Indians in your fishing trips?

A Backyard in Nowhere is a new and beautifully filmed fishing video which claims to be a "new style" of fishing video - 2 parts Fishing, 2 parts Western and 1 part extreme. If the trailer is anything to go by, this could fast become a classic (and not just for the fisherman who sounds like Arnold Schwartzeneger or the crazy guy with the axe)!

Is this the perfect fisherman's beer?

2011-10-15T12:18:00.001+10:00

Scottish Brewers Make Beer with the Fishes

Scottish brewery "Brew Dog" has released a beer that seems perfect for fishermen (and women). Called "Sunk Punk", in what is billed as a world first in beer-making, this 7.1% Indian Pale Ale was brewed on the ocean floor, 20 metres down, in a specially modified tank which the sea kept at a steady temperature of 10 degrees Celsius, the optimal temperature for the yeast.

The tank was anchored to the ocean flor and flew a Jolly Roger flag to scare aware courious fish. After two weeks, the tank was towed into harbour before being hoisted back to dry land with the successfully fermented beer.

Is this the perfect fisherman's beer?

The first beer to be brewed under water, Sunk Punk allegedly contains some hardcore maritime-themed ingredients such as buckweed, distilled sea-salt, rum and mermaids.

The makers of the underwater beer say that not only does it have a great taste, but by brewing beer under water, they are breaking an ancient Scottish curse. According to Scottish folklore calm a storm, you should throw a bottle of beer into the ocean. According to the legend, a fisherman with a witch for wife would go fishing every day and catch nothing. The witch would go to the shore and cast spells of luck to turn her husband’s fortunes. She then discovered that the reason he was constantly coming home empty handed was because he was actually drinking beer rather than fishing [Ed: Couldn't he do both? We do!]. The witch decided to put a curse on the coastline that meant if her husband ever tried to come to shore, a storm would start and the boat would sink. Brewing a beer under the waves is intended to halt the storms and reverse the curse.

For more information on this beer brewed underwater, visit BrewDog.

German Fisherman Smashes World Record

2011-10-13T17:24:00.000+10:00

Who wouldn't want to reel in a 539 lb (245 kg) fish? Well that's exactly what German fisherman, Reinhard Wuhrmann, did off the coast north of Norway recently, and at the same time, he smashed the halibut world weight record by 58 lbs. The record breaking Atlantic Halibut measured 8ft 3ins.

Now we're told that the halibutt is not exactly a fighting fish, and it's more likely reeling in a barn door than anything else, but they are good eating and it's still a hell of a challenge to get them up from the depths.

Whurman spent three hours before he and three other fishermen finally landed it. The fish was so big that at one point Reinhard's rod snapped in two. The men were only able to haul it onto their boat after tying a rope around it when it came alongside.

'All for the Cast' by new FishMax contributor - Phil

2011-10-13T14:19:00.007+10:00

It began like any other autumn fishing trip, the warmer mornings had signalled the start of the surface bassing season on my favourite dam on Queensland’s ‘Scenic Rim’.

After preparing the boat and the equipment, we settled in with a few beers whilst sorting and rigging our gear, discussing at length our intended tactics, comparing surface lures and tying knots before checking and then double checking them as the sun fell sleepily to the west. “Yeah… I recon we’ll be up at four and be on the water by six” I exclaimed to Justin, my equally eager angling partner, “five minutes from the boat ramp and we’ll be braining bass on the surface in the bay of plenty!” I muttered confidently.

With a squeeze of the fuel primer bulb and a few stern pulls of the starter cord my old Johnson outboard screamed into life, “Brrrring ding ding ding ding ding” the old seahorse snarled, no doubt waking the locals as she bellowed a cloud of two stroke smoke.
With a knowing smile and boundless expectation we set off across the slick smooth early morning waters, a magical mist rising from the surface as the sun peaked over the mountains framing the impoundment and illuminating the tell tale “swirls’ left by hungry bass as they dined on hapless mayflies.

With the ‘Bay of plenty’ in sight and our thoughts firmly locked onto a busy morning of top water Bass casting; Blat Blat, Burrrr…, the old water churner began to labour as she abruptly and without warning lost power, firing on only one cylinder instead of the intended two as the 25 year old technology had intended, “She’ll be right” I shouted to Justin, who was poised at the bow in anticipation of firing off the first cast. “There’s only 100 meters to shore, there we can take off the cowl and we’ll see what’s what”.
As the old Johnno pushed us forward through the brisk morning air, a perplexed and concerned expression fell over Justin’s youthful face, and before I could say “It’s probably just a fowled spark plug” - BOOM! a bright flash of orange flame leapt into the air, trailing behind it a plum of white smoke and launching the engine cowl skyward leaving the boat and its occupants reeling in a mixture of confusion and shock, “What the f@#& was that” I stammered, clutching at my head with both hands as I imagined the engine cowl plummeting back to earth with meteoric force from the heavens above.

It was a long row back to the boat ramp, long enough to recall the ‘maintenance checks’ made on the old outboard the previous afternoon, and upon inspection of the old “clip on” it became apparent to me that in spite of “meticulous” preparation, a spark plug, if left loose will wind itself free and provide adequate ignition for atomized fuel, leaving you with bleeding ear drums, blistered hands from rowing and a fishing expedition to remember!

Funny Fishing Photo Caption Contest October 2011

2011-10-10T16:21:00.001+10:00

Got a great caption for this funny fishing photo? Send it in for your chance to win a pack containing a FishMax t-shirt valued at $29.95!

(click image to enlarge)

Simply post your funny caption in the comments section of this article or on the FishMax facebook page, to go in the running to a FishMax T-Shirt worth $29.95.

Terms and Conditions

Entries close on Nov 15, 2011. Winner will be contacted by us in late Nov 2011 and will be announced here on FishMax.com.au.
You may enter as many times as you want.
The winner will receive a FishMax T-Shirt worth $29.95.
Only entries posted in the comments section below or on the fishmax.com.au facebook page will be eligible.
Entries valid for Australian residents only.
The prize is not transferable and not redeemable for cash.
A valid email must be left in order for us to contact you if you win. If the winner cannot be contacted, we will award the prize to the runner-up.
The best entry will be selected by the FishMax.com.au staff. The judges decision is final and no correspondence will be entered in to.

2011-10-08T14:01:00.000+10:00

"A bad day of fishing is better than a good day of work."
Anon

Swimming with the Fishes

2011-10-04T17:18:00.000+10:00

Amazing Yellowfin Tuna Photos from Panama

It sounds like a threat from a mafia boss, but in the case of a couple of Tony Berkowitz, from the Billfish Foundation, it was the real thing. Off the coast of Panama with a team of scientists, Berkowitz, with just snorkel and mask, dived into a bait ball that was being attacked by yellowfin tuna .

Berkowitz insists that the photos are not photoshopped.

Berkowitz reported that baitfish tried to use him as structure when they were getting harassed by tuna, and that he emerged a little battered, bruised and bitten by the voracious yellowfin. Read more on the Billfish Foundation Website.

The Billfish Foundation is the only non-profit organization dedicated solely to conserving and enhancing billfish populations around the world.

A membership-based organization headquartered in Florida, the Foundations international network of supporters includes conservation-minded anglers, captains, mates, scientists, policy makers, tournament directors, clubs and sportfishing businesses. The foundation works to create marine conservation strategies that benefit oceanic resources while also empowering the recreational fishing community and works for solutions that are good for the fish but not punitive to recreational anglers.

.

Celebrity Fishing Interview - "No Run No Fun" Says Cricket Star

2011-10-02T12:03:00.000+10:00

The Dominator loves to fish

Exclusive FishMax Interview

Nicknamed ‘The Dominator’ after he debuted for New South Wales at the age of 25, handy all-rounder Dominic Thornely has seen his share of great cricket both here at home and in the UK and the IPL, but it's not just runs and wickets that gets Dom excited. Dom and his mates, including best mate and fellow cricket star Brett Lee, get out on the water as often as they can. This week FishMax talks exclusively to Dom about fishing the Sydney Harbour and the critical ingredient to catching lots of fish.

FM: What’s your earliest fishing memory?
DT: My Dad used to take me fishing on the Murray River when we would go camping to a small town called Walwa in the North East of Victoria, Every year we would camp at the caravan park where the same families would come from all around. They all would bring along their boats so I made sure I was up early and fished with a number of the blokes in their ‘tinnies’. Murray Cod and Redfin were the targets. My first fish was a redfin caught trolling.

FM: Where is your favourite fishing spot?
DT: I fish all over the harbour and the Hawkesbury River, would have to say Sydney harbour is my favourite as there are some many options but particularly the Kingfish of Sydney are awesome fun to catch.

FM: Your best fishing story?
DT: Brett Lee and I are best mates and we often head out on the harbour to fish, It was Sept 11 2009 and we had a massive patch of Kingfish hitting the surface right out the front of the Kings St wharf (Minutes from the CBD). We caught fish after fish (average 70-90cm) on every cast using metals and flickbaits. We had the patch for over a week and kept coming back each morning eventually we would recognise a routine and had the boat positioned waiting for them to re surface. Brett and I couldn’t get enough of the action right on the door of our largest city. Training was every afternoon and by the end of the week we were buggered! Up at 4am fish till midday off to training till 6pm and do it all again the next day.

FM: Favourite fish recipe (either describe the dish or give the recipe if you prefer)?
DT: I learnt this off Masterchef! Kingfish cut in fillets, cover in salt, lime rind and a sprinkle of olive oil, let sit for 5 minutes and then cook on a hot plate with the skin down, cook until the fish is ¾ cooked flip for a minute and your done, perfect kingfish fillet.

Thrornely and his 10kg Tuna caught on a handline

FM: What’s the biggest fish you’ve caught?
DT: I caught a 10kg Yellow fin Tuna on a hand line. Was on my honeymoon at Lord Howe Island we were trolling around Balls Pyramid with 80 pound mono handlines (gloves on of course!), the fish ripped the handline and spool over the side and into the water, All I had hold of was the line ripping through my hands. Managed to hang on and gain some line back plus the spool and had him on board in a short time. Greatful to be wearing the gloves!

FM: How often do you go fishing?
DT: I have been addicted for the past 5 years, playing cricket professionally for NSW for 10 years I realised I needed a hobby and something to take my mind of the game. Plus I had a lot of down time when not training! I fish at least once a week some weeks up to 4 times.

FM: Where is the most exotic place you’ve been fishing?
DT: Lord Howe Island is a magic place with some of the best fishing literally minutes off the Island.

FM: Do you have a fishing tip you’re willing to share?
DT: Knots, tackle and reels are critical to landing good fish. Use your sounder, study it and learn how to use it. Have a plan and stick to it. My favourite saying is ‘no run no fun!” this definitely applies in the harbour. Like cricket I believe you never stop learning particularly when the conditions can change the bite so quickly, I guess its a little like cricket, when the conditions change so does the action.

Words: Stevo Perry Pics: Dominic Thornely's Personal Albums

2011-09-30T14:01:00.000+10:00

"The fishing was good; it was the catching that was bad."
AK Best

Drunk Fishermen Hit Nuclear Sub!

2011-09-27T11:45:00.000+10:00

Drunk Russian Fishermen Crash in to Nuclear Sub

We don't see a lot of Russian fishing stories, but when we do, the are often doozies! Take for example the boatload of drunk fishermen who crashed in to a nuclear submarine at Avachino Bay on the far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula on Wednesday according to the Interfax news agency.

Apparently the submarine's crew had seen the approaching fishing boat and tried to warn it of the imminent collision, but the vessel ignored the signals. Interfax reported that a navy inspection team checked the trawler and found all of its crew drunk.

A Russian Pacific Fleet spokesman said that the incident caused no injuries and inflicted only "insignificant" damage to the anchored submarine and that there was no radiation leak. Imagine the insurance claim form for that one!

When Good Swordfish Go Bad!

2011-09-25T16:41:00.000+10:00

Check out this amazing swordfish video from american, Sam Root. Sam and a few mates were having a slow day swordfishing off Florida's Duck Key, when theyfinally hooked up at the end of the day. Root, a photographer, grabbed his camera and jumped in to get some underwater images of the fish.

That's when things started to go pear- shaped! Check out the video:

You can read the full story of the attacking Swordfish and see more attacking swordfish pictures at Root's blog here:

Kiwi Fisherman eats $100K Tuna

2011-09-23T16:51:00.000+10:00

Monster Bluefin Tuna caught in NZ

We've got an enormous amount of respect for our fishing brothers "across the ditch" and an enormous amount of envy towards one particular Kiwi Fisherman.

New Zealand fisherman Jeremy Walker caught a monster bluefin tuna on Monday weighing in at an amazing 305.8 kg and valued at about NZ$100,000 (about AU$80,000) if it had been sold at a Tokyo fish market.

The massive bluefine tuna was hooked on a game fishing trip off Westport in the South Island and locals are calling it a "once in a lifetime fish". Walker isn't planning to sell it though, telling media that , he's got plans to bbq the fish and eat it.

See more of this very big NZ tuna in the video below.

Record Tuna Taken on Fly Off Christmas Island

2011-09-22T15:24:00.000+10:00

Englishman Chris Cook recently landed a record-breaking Tuna while fishing of Christmas Island with a camera crew shooting a short fly fishing movie called Casting at Shadows. The 128 lb yellowfin tuna is the largest fish of its kind caught using fly-fishing methods according to the International Game Fish Association (record pending confirmation).

"Initially we were thinking it was a shark." said Cook. ""I was shocked because we hadn't gone out to catch a fish that big, so this was a nice surprise to be able to incorporate into the film.The sheer size of it was scary at first and it cast a huge shadow."

It took Cook three hours to reel in the giant yellowfin tuna, and three of the crew had to help to drag it into the boat after tying a rope round its tail. Cook's was on Christmas Island filming from June 30 to July 15 and was intending the movie to be a feature about bonefish and giant trevally but he is delighted to include his record yellowfin.

"[Christmas Island] is one of the most stunning and remote fishing destinations in the world." Cook said. "It took us two days to get there but it was worth the effort."

Casting at Shadows shows Cook fly fishing for Bonefish, Giant Trevally, Sharks and a lot more in one of the most untouched and stunning locations the world has to offer. Available online here or view the trailer below.

2011-09-21T14:01:00.000+10:00

"The gods do not deduct from man's allotted span
the hours spent in fishing."
Babylonian Proverb

Catch a Fish as Big as a Car?

2011-09-18T16:34:00.000+10:00

Who wouldn't love to catch a big 1500 lb bluefin or some other big sports fish the size of a small car? Well, this guy obviously thinks if you train hard enough, you'll be ready when the time comes!

According to blog posts, this fellow is waiting for an upcoming tuna trip to Prince Edward Island in Canada and going stir crazy in the meantime, so decided to see if he could use his gear to tow a small Nissan hatchback with his fishing gear!.

We don't recommend you try this at home - For those interested, he was using a Savage rod and a Tiagra 80 reel and a rented Nissan.

Best Whole BBQ Snapper Recipe

2011-09-15T12:12:00.022+10:00

Best BBQ Snapper Recipe

Is this the best Whole Snapper Recipe for the BBQ? We asked our readers to send in their best whole fish bbq recipe, and this great recipe sent in by Bazza is our staff pick, Give it a try and let us know what you think!

Ingredients1.8kg to 2 kg whole snapper, scaled and guttered
1 lime thinly sliced
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Mint leaves, chopped spring onion and lime wedges to serve

Ingredients for dressing
4 garlic cloves, chopped
5cm piece of ginger, peeled & thinly sliced
3 long red chillies, sliced
1 /4 cup caster sugar
1 / 3 cup fish sauce
2 limes, juiced

Method
Pre heat the bbq grill on a medium heat. Rinse the belly cavity of the fish and clean any blood from the back bone area, as this can make the fish have a bitter taste. Dry it with some paper towelling. Score the fish every 2.5cm intervals on both sides of the thickest part of the snapper's body to help it cook evenly.

Place 3 sheets of foil on the bench that you are working from. Place the snapper in the middle and arrange the lime slices in the belly cavity.

Drizzle both sides of the fish with oil and season with pepper. Cover the fish with a sheet of foil and fold in the sides to enclose.

Place the fish on the BBQ grill for 10 minutes, and turn over and cook for a further 8 minutes on the other side. Remove from the bbq and carefully unwrap. Test the fish is cooked using a fork, seeing if it flakes apart easily.

Place on a platter and let it sit for 4 or 5 minutes.

For the dressing, place the ginger, garlic and chillies into a food processor and turn it into a paste. Transfer it to a saucepan.

Add the sugar, fish sauce, 100ml lime juice and 2 tbsp of cold water. Bring to the boil and reduce it to a medium heat and allow it to simmer and reduce to become thick. Set aside and allow it to cool.

With your snapper on the serving platter, pour over the dressing. Garnish with mint and spring onions, and serve with lime wedges.

Best Wine Match for BBQ Snapper?

If you're looking for a great wine to match your BBQ whole snapper consider a Semillion from the Hunter Valley. We'd recommend the 2009 Semillion from 201 Estates as a great choice. Although Semillon is very much the overlooked white varietal in mainstream drinking circles, it is in fact the perfect match with any kind of grilled seafood in general and barbecued prawns in particular.

Unlikely Sauvignon Blanc (which has strong aromas that often overpower seafood), Semillon is only lightly aromatic and therefore lets the flavour of the food show through. Whilst some wooded Chardonnays are prefect for creamy seafood dishes, they are often too heavy for grilled seafood and again the flavour of the food is lost. On the other hand, Semillon is never oaked, it is light and crisp and has a slightly citrus flavour which complements the typical drizzle of lemon over any kind of grilled seafood.

To order online or for stockists of the 201 Estates Semillion 2009 visit thier website.

Win gourmet BBQ Pack from Wiltshire

No gourmet bbq is complete without the right tools, and some of the best come from Wilthire Bar B. If you missed out on our great Wiltshire father's day giveaway don't dispair as we have two prize sets of some of the latest in BBQ gadgets from Wiltshire Bar.B – to help turn your BBQ into a gourmet experience!

Perhaps the most exciting item is the Wiltshire Bar.B Pizza Stone Set, which enables traditional stone baked pizzas to be made on the BBQ! The set includes a pizza stone, serving rack and pizza cutter. Then there’s the Wiltshire Bar.B Mini Meat Thermometers that help you to produce your steak to rare, medium or well done.

Also included is non-stick BBQ Basket which is the simplest and cleanest way to barbeque sliced vegies, prawns and those smaller items – it keeps them all together while you stir & cook and a set of the BBQ Egg Rings with handles. All these new products are available from Bunnings, if you miss out on our prize.

Each prize set is valued at $79.95. Simply enter your name and email below before Midnight October 5 to go in the draw.

* we take your privacy seriously. We will not spam you or sell your details.

Storm WildEye Live Series Lures

2011-09-13T16:32:00.001+10:00

This short but informative video from Fishing World's Jim Harnwell gives a couple of useful tips on how to fish the the Storm WildEye lures to acheive the maximum potential.

A few of us are quite impressed with the WildEye's natural looking plastic lures.
All Live Series lures feature flash foils and Storm’s signature holographic WildEyes for added realism, and they come pre-rigged with the right Rapala VMC hooks so anglers can spend less time baiting hooks and more time fishing.

Bad Day Fishing

2011-09-09T15:11:00.001+10:00

US Warship Mistakenly Fires on Fishermen

They say a bad day fishing is a better than a good day at work, and the FishMax crew can certainly vouch for that (we've had our share of bad days fishing) but we've never had as bad a day as group of American fishermen whose boat was mistaken for a target by a US War Ship and fired upon!

US Media have reported that late last month the USS The Sullivans, fired upon a boat carrying a number of North Carolina men out for a day's fishing.The reports say that the comander of the navy ship that fired on the fishing boat has been relieved of his duty, but no word on whether the US Navy has bought the fishermen new underpants!

(And no, the USS The Sullivans is not named after the long running Australian TV show, but rather 5 brothers called from the Sullivan family all of whom lost their lives during the Battle of Guadalcanal on November 13, 1942)

Taking Snapper at Coromandel Bay, NZ

2011-09-03T03:22:00.000+10:00

Occassional contributor Rhett Thorne from Mad Keen Yak Angling tells us about a great day NZ Snapper Fishing.

The Author's First Coromandel Snapper

While on a recent trip to New Zealand, we stopped at Coromandel Bay [Ed: Coromandel is 2.5 hrs drive from Auckland on the Eastern side of the North Island of New Zealand] , where we were taken fishing by the Mussel Barge Snapper Safaris. We left in a group of around 15 and travelled out into the mussel farms where we bottom fished using baits like squid and cubed pillies.

Within about 10 seconds of our baits hitting the bottom, we were pulling up snapper like there was no tomorrow. My first snapper, being the biggest of the trip ate the tinniest chunk of pilchard, but then again elephants do eat peanuts.

Dusk at the Mussel Farms

After about half an hour the fishing had settled down a little, so I threw out a whole squid which hooked up onto a beast of a fish. The skipper called it for a kingfish, but in no time the fish pulled me into the mussel farm and broke off my 15kg line. Other than snapper, we managed to catch plenty of little yellowtail, Aussie salmon (which the Kiwis call Kahwai), a couple rat kings and small shark.

The tackle usually associated with snapper fishing is a spin combo, like the Okuma Trio or V-System spins, but with snags 7 meters on either side of us, we had to beef up our gear in order to land the fish.

All in all, the day was packed exceptional fishing. The fish weren’t necessarily huge, but they were great fun. Next time you’re in New Zealand, drop into, Mussel Barge Snapper Safaris; it is as cheap as $50 for a fishing adventure of a lifetime.

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

Product Review - New Filter Water Bottles

2011-09-02T11:36:00.000+10:00

Bobble Filter Water Bottles are Tough

Disposable plastic bottles use valuable resources, clog our waterways and of course, cost too much money. Fishermen and women were probably amongst the first to know that water in throw away plastic bottles is an environmental no-no.

During a day out off Caloundra, Qld, we field tested a new reusable filter bottle called "Bobble" which has recently been launched in Australia and New Zealand.

The Bobble Water Bottle's ingenious design removes chlorine and contaminants from tap water and so you can drink crisp, clean portable water without incurring the significant costs – both environmental and monetary – associated with plastic bottles. As water passes over the carbon filter, the negative ions of contaminants are drawn to the carbon granules – leaving the water crisper and cleaner tasting than ever.
Made from recycled plastic and free of BPA, Phthalates and PVC, bobble is this spring/summer’s must-have reusable accessory. bobble’s low price will mitigate the cost of regular bottled water consumption, which can cost individuals hundreds of dollars annually.

Certainly we found that the water stored in the Bobble tasted great, at least as good if not better than purchased bottled water. The Bobble is also suprisingly robust. It actually appears flimsy when empty, but the bottles we tested had no problems withstanding the usual pumps and thumps the contents of our esky suffer during a day out on the ocean with no leakage.

Bobble is available nationwide and priced from $9.95/$14.95 For stockists please visit http://www.waterbobble.com.au/

Brisbane Boatshow Numbers Down

2011-08-30T16:31:00.000+10:00

Last weekend saw what was billed as the biggest and most diverse Brisbane Boat Show in its 51 year history, and while we certainly enjoyed ourselves, there are mixed reports from attendees.

It appeared to the writer, that numbers were well down on previous years and more than one exhibitor told us that they had not received anywhere near the level of interest from potential customers they were expecting. A number of attendees told us that they felt the show lacked the sort of "show deals" that could not be found elsewhere but no doubt the tough economic conditions are responsible for lacklustre sales results.

On the up side, the feedback on the performances from the Fishing and Boating Stage was generally positive, particularly Brett Thomson's discussion of lures at the Yamaha Supertank, and the interactive sailing demonstrations presented by Yachting Queensland and the Kids Marine Zone appeared popular amongst the younger visitors.

There certainly where lots of boats to look at (and dream over) with more than 100 exhibitors who brought in more than 400 boats, dozens of PWC’s, hundreds of engines and plenty of marine electronics and accessories with the 37ft Boston Whaler and the Sea Ray 370 Sundancer high on many peoples wish list.

Lauren Jackson says No Bananas on the Boat

2011-08-28T23:26:00.000+10:00

Basketballer Lauren Jackson Reels in Salmon

We loved this story about Australia's hottest basketball export Lauren Jackson teaching American's about the "no bananas on the boat" rule!
According to the Seattle Times, Lauren was recently fishing with some of her Seattle Storm team mates and no one was having much luck, until Lauren realised some of her team mates had bananas on board! The 6'5" Aussie who plays forward-center and is the only WNBA player to compete in two Olympic Games and two World Championships for Australia, quickly sorted her team mates out.

Perhaps Lauren had heard the storey from Liz Ellis. Regular readers will recall Liz told FishMax that she learned the hard way about bananas and fishing.

And best of all, once Jackson got rid of the bananas, she hooked up on a couple of nice salmon!

Big Marlin off Australian East Coast

2011-08-26T17:21:00.000+10:00

Here is a great clip of some awesome Marlin Fishing from the boys at Gorilla Game Fishing. The underwater camera is a blast!

Fishing Action Clip 01 from Toby Denneen on Vimeo.

The Gorilla is a tag-and-release only boat, and skipper Brett Thomas and his crew offer some great charter fishing options, and are not afraid to put in the hard yards to go after the big fish. For more info, take a look at http://www.gorillagamefishing.com/

And no, we understand the girls at 1:19 on the clip are not included! :)

Fishing by the Book?

2011-08-26T16:49:00.018+10:00

All those years I used to tell mum I was at the library when I was really fishing, and I never thought of this one!

The Cohoes Public Library in New York State, USA, now has 5 fishing rods that are ready to lend out! All you need is your library card and they loan them out like any other library resource.

Hemingway would have been 112

The details:
•They have 5 fishing rods rigged with a bobber and hook.

•You may borrow them for 7 days, after which they must be returned (in good condition, please) or renewed.

•You are responsible for following all necessary and appropriate rules and regulations.

• You need a fishing licence

Maybe you should pick up a good fishing book while you are there? How about something by Earnest Hemingway whose birthday was recently celebrated by the library. The "Old Man and the Sea" author and legendry fisherman, would have been 112 on 21 July.

Holy Sht or Bull Sht: Did Boy Fishing Catches Severed Foot?

2011-08-25T14:32:00.022+10:00

Gruesome discovery fished up

Last week we showed you a photo a reader sent in claiming to show a severed foot fished up by a boy in a US Lake.

It's a pretty grusome story and its true that strange things happen when fishing, but this one isn't quite as horrible as it sounds.

According to US media reports and reports from Lake County Sherriff's Office in Lake Marie, Maine, a boy fishing hooked what he thought was a human foot, but after several hours of searching by police divers, it was determined that the foot came from a Halloween prop.

Divers and sonar teams spent nearly nine hours searching Lake Marie, near Antioch, after the boy hooked the foot and reeled it to within three feet of his boat before it fell back into the murky lake water. A spokesman said the search was launched because the boy was considered a reliable source.

The fake foot was found Wednesday evening with the use of sonar.“ Needless to say everyone involved is relieved that the foot turned out to be a fake one,” Lake County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Christopher Thompson said.

I bet it gave the boy quite a scare though!

Don't forget, if you've seen a big fish photo, crazy fishing video, wierd fishing tail or tall fishing story that sounds too good to be true send it in to holy@fishmax.com.au and our team of reporters and experts will investigate and tell you whether they are truely "Holy Sh*t" or "Bull Sh*t"!

Looking for some Freshwater Fishing Tips?

2011-08-23T15:39:00.000+10:00

Good rain earlier in the year means that freshwater fishing in various places in Australia is looking a lot better.

To help you get the best results when freshwater fishing, Rapala VMC Australia has launched a great series of freshwater fishing seminars in Victoria and Tasmania under the title "Freshen Up!".

Presented by Fishing Australia's host Rob Paxevanos, and Adventure Bound's Scott Gray (Victoria only). The seminars cover all the basics of freshwater angling including: gear & terminal setup; lure choice; land based & boating techniques; selecting a likely fishing spot and more – there's sure to be something for all freshwater anglers.

The Dates & Venues of Rapala VMC Australia's Freshen Up! seminars are as follows:

22/08/2011 - The Point, West Park, Burnie TAS.
Contact Tassie Tackle Outdoor on 03 6431 6500.
23/08/2011 - North Launceston Football Club C/- Aurora Stadium, Invermay Rd, Launceston TAS.
Contact Fishing Gear on 03 6326 5990, or Tamar Marine Launceston on 03 6331 6188.
24/08/2011 - Lindisfarne Football Club Rooms, Anzac Park, Lindisfarne TAS.
Contact Spot On Fishing Connection on 03 6234 4880.
9/09/2011 - Wagga Wagga Boat Club, Lake Albert, Plumpton St, Wagga Wagga NSW.
Contact Compleat Angler Wagga Wagga on 02 6921 4313.
20/09/2011 - Inside Outback, 6-10 Clyde Street, Myrtleford VIC.
Contact Inside Outback on 03 5752 2392.
21/09/2011 - Hooked on Bait & Tackle, 159 Old Geelong Road, Hoppers Crossing VIC.
Contact Hooked On Bait & Tackle on 03 9748 3811.
22/09/2011 - Compleat Angler Dandenong, 241-243 Princes Hwy, Dandenong VIC.
Contact Compleat Angler on 03 9794 9397.
23/09/2011 - Stawell Football/Netball Club Rooms, Central Park, Napier St, Stawell VIC.
Contact Stawell Sports Power on 03 5358 1038.

Bookings are essential so please contact your preferred venue on the number above.

Trout Fishing in NZ Back Country

2011-08-21T13:37:00.008+10:00

Would you trek mountains, brave snow storms, and hike for days just to fish some of the most beautiful trout streams in the world? Hell Yeah!

Greenstone Trailer from Chris Keig on Vimeo.

Check out this great trailer for a new movie by Taylor Kirkpatrick and Harwick Caldwell about their backcountry New Zealand for trout and if you like what you see you can buy your own copy of the movie here.

Warmer Months Mean More Fish on the Barbie

2011-08-19T17:36:00.018+10:00

Do You Have the Best BBQ Whole Snapper Recipe?

Soon the days will be longer and warmer and that means getting some of our catch on to the barbie. In September we'll be looking at the best ways to barbeque fish and seafood.

Got a great BBQ fish recipe? Send it in to us at recipes@fishmax.com.au and if we use it you'll win a great FishMax.com.au T-Shirt valued at $29.99.

In the mean time, and just in time for for Father’s Day, Wiltshire Bar.B has launched some new, practical items to make BBQing fish even more satisfying and FishMax has four prize packs valued at $39.97 each to give away to our readers.

Each pack includes the really handy Wiltshire Bar.B Hot Plate Liner. It’s washable, reusable, non-stick and lasts for years, saves a lot of mess and is ideal for using on public barbies. (You can get them from Coles).

Cooking fish on the BBQ this father's day?

The set also includes the clever new Wiltshire Bar.B Egg Rings. They have foldable handles that make lifting them from the barbie plate so much easier… and of course they keep your eggs from running into the other foods. (you can buy these from Bunnings)

Finally there is the expert barbecuer’s tools set - the Precision Tong and Precision Spatula (also available at Bunnings). The nifty spatula has a built-in bottle opener and Santoku grooves down the blade for easier release of foods. This works particularly well on whole fish or fish fillets cooked with the skin on.

Each prize set is valued at $39.97. To win simply provide your name and email in the below form before Midnight Sunday 28 August. Four lucky winners will be drawn at random from all entrants.

* We take your privacy seriously. We'll never sell or giveaway your details or send you SPAM.

Holy Sht or Bull Sht: Boy Fishing Catches Severed Leg

2011-08-18T14:27:00.006+10:00

Fishing Boy Finds Severed Foot?

Seen a crazy fishing photo or video and want to know if it's real? Send it in to holy@fishmax.com.au and our reporters will track down the truth, and declare whether it's Holy Sh*t or just plain Bull Sh*t.

This week, we received this photo from a reader who claims that it was taken by an American boy who fished up a severed leg while fishing in a lake in Maine.

The photo certainly looks real, but was it really fished up by a little boy? We've asked our reporters to dig deeper and we'll let you know as soon as we do whether this wierd fishing photo is true or not.

Don't forget, if you've seen a big fish photo, crazy fishing video, wierd fishing gear or tall fishing story that sounds too good to be true send 'em all in to holy@fishmax.com.au and our team of reporters and experts will investigate and tell you whether they are truely "Holy Sh*t" or "Bull Sh*t"!

Red to Red and Straight Ahead

2011-08-16T16:22:00.013+10:00

North West Island Red Session - by East of the Capricorn

Firstly, a bit about the skipper - Stu, Stu targets Reds! Meaning Red Emperor and having lived in Gladstone Queensland now for the past 35 years, Stu has his spots! So needless to say his freezer is always stocked with Emperor fillets for the evening cook ups.

The boat used is a Haines Hunter 580 Breeze, powered by a Johnson 140 hp four stroke. This boat handles chop like it’s not even there, just cutting her way through. The 140 Johnson 4 stroke is an extremely fuel efficient engine burning less than a litre a nautical mile and pushes the Haines along at a top speed of 36 knots. Bait was the standard 3 x 2.5 kg blocks of pilchards and 2 x 2 kg blocks of squid. Having taken a block of pillies and a block of squid out of the esky at north entrance, it was ready to put to good use when we arrived at Stu’s spot.

Dawn broke to a great morning, a light 10 to 12 knot southerly breeze. Launching the boat at 5:30 am at the main Gladstone boat ramp near the yacht club was quick and easy.
There was a little chop on the water at north entrance, so not perfect, but still very manageable as the Haines ploughed through at 21 knots. We had a bit over two hours of travelling time before we arrived at where we would begin to fish, a spot off North West Island!

There is something about arriving at a fishing location where a tropical island is visible, and the early morning flight of the sea birds can be seen as they head out to catch their breakfast and food for their young. The wind was abating, and was now down to about 8 knots, so everything was looking better and better.

As the GPS alarm announced our arrival at Stu’s secret spot, all eyes were on the sounder. Then right on queue the depth started to drop and fern was visible on the edge of the drop off. Matt flew up to the bow ready for Stu’s call to drop anchor, and set the anchor in a depth of about 53 metres (Thank god Stu had a bouy to lift the anchor, as I am sure Matt would of had a heart attack lifting it from that depth!).

As Matt came around the cab from the bow he saw Stu locked on to a good fish as the bugger was quick to throw a bait on, and get it to the bottom! After some blistering runs and Stu’s arms looking like they had been lengthened by at least 6 inches, we had colour! A damn shark, of about 6 or 7 foot came up from the depths! As Stu started re-rigging, my bait sailed down the depths to the bottom.

We were all hoping that we had not just arrived in Sharksville for breakfast or feeding time, when bang, Matt was on! Holy sh*t, this thing was shaking its head and fighting hard with some blistering runs back to the bottom! Yep this was a nice fish, or was it just another shark? Matt was now being a little casual fighting this fish as he assumed it was just another shark!

Then as colour appeared Stu dived for the leader and dropped on board a nice 11 kg Red for Matt! Then the grin appeared on Matts face and it was priceless, he was one very happy fisho! (As we all would be if we’d just landed a 11 kg Red Emperor!) Matt baited up again and sent his rig sailing back to the bottom for another round. As Matt now had a chance to look around he said to Stu,” check out the weather”. The wind had dropped and was now zero! How much better could this day get? Red on the deck and no wind, perfect!

As Stu’s rig hit the bottom, he had a bit of an enquiry, just the softest touch. Stu let him have a bit of line, then struck back, to hooked up solidly on what felt like Godzilla! His 40 kg outfit with a Shimano TLD 25 was now bet double, the drag peeling line out. This was one very good fish! As the fish’s initial run finished, Stu settled back for the fight and worked the fish towards the surface. After seeing the rod tip bobbing up and down with the head shaking, Matt suggested that this was just another shark, but Stu doesn’t give in til he has colour. Then from the depths, a quick flash of red, this was indeed a very good emperor. After another 20 minutes of up and down Stu finally had his best red ever on the surface. A well placed gaff shot by Matt had him safely on board. 15 ½ kg of Red muscle fish!! Man this fish is a monster and Stu’s new PB!

Over the next 4 hours, 3 more big reds were caught, another 5 won the battle and were lost. What a day! As all good things must come to an end, we picked the anchor up and turned the 580 Breeze for home, tired but extremely content! Another great day fishing “East of the Capricorn”.

Largest Fishing Lure in the World

2011-08-16T14:15:00.018+10:00

Australian fishermen know that bigger ain't necessarily better (although don't try and convince a Barra fisherman), but yet again, our American fishing cousins don't seem to have got the memo.

This week the Guiness Book of Records officially recognised the World's Biggest Fishing Lure, measuring in at 10 feet, 10 inches long, plus a two-foot metal treble hook at the bottom and weighing more than 355 pounds, this big lure is located at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, in Destin Florida (USA, of course!).

Mark Davis and a team of nine took more than 10 months to plan and build the giant lure - which is 24 times larger than its base design, a 5 ½ inch fishing lure made by local legend David Partridge, owner of Flatliner Lures. Davis was inspired to create the World's Largest Fishing Lure by his wife, Mary Ellen and her family who were some of the original settlers in the Destin area in the late 1800's and who have always been involved in the fishing industry.

While it might not be reeling in giant fish anytime soon, The World's Largest Fishing Lure will be on permanent display at SS Spitfire Mercantile at Sandestin and is expected to attract plenty of admirers.

We'd like to see the rod that could caste this one!

The big lure's home, Destin Florida, has a long history of recreational fishing. It has been named the "World's Luckiest Fishing Village" and is known internationally for the splendor of the Choctawhatchee Bay and its quick access to deep water. Destin is the home of the Fishing Rodeo each October and the Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic, hosted by Sandestin each June, is ranked one of the top 10 billfish tournaments in the world.

Fishing Writing's Founding Father?

2011-08-12T14:13:00.002+10:00

Izaac Walton: The World's First Fishing Writer?

Did you know it was Izaac Walton's birthday this week? Do you know who Izaac Walton is?

Born in 1593, Izaak Walton was arguably the world's first full time fishing enthusiast and as the first person to write a book on fishing could be considered the granfather of all fishing writers. Called The Compleat Angler and first published in 1653, Walton's book celebrating his love of fishing and was still in print 350 years later!

The Compleat Angler included various poems about fishing, including this one:

Oh the gallant Fisher's life,
It is the best of any,
'Tis full of pleasure, void of strife,
And 'tis belov'd of many:
Other joyes
are but toyes,
only this
lawful is,
for our skill
breeds no ill,
but content and pleasure.

In a morning up we rise,
Ere Aurora's peeping,
Drink a cup to wash our eyes,
Leave the sluggard sleeping:
Then we go
to and fro,
with our knacks
at our backs,
to such streams
as the Thames,
if we have the leasure.

When we pleas to walk abroad
For our recreation,
In the fields is our abode,
Full of delectation.
Where in a brook
with a book,
or a Lake,
fish we take;
there we sit,
for a bit,
till we fish intangle.

It comes as hardly a surprise that even 400+ years ago recreational fishermen were starting early, and given that coffee was not widely drunk in Europe until about 50 years after the poem was written, we dare say there was something stronger in the cup he drank.

27kg Flathead!?!

2011-08-11T16:07:00.018+10:00

Not a 27 kg Flathead (as we know it)

A recent headline on a US fishing website screaming "60 Lb Flathead" sure caught our attention, but a quick read reminded us that this is just another example of different fish having different names throughout the world.

In Australia, the record weight for a flathead is reported to be one hooked by Alan Strathearn of Richmond River NSW who caught a 9.440 kg dusky flathead in July 1983. Dusky flathead are the largest of the many species of flathead found in Australia, and the most commonly caught, but dusky flathead have very rarely been caught at sizes up to 12–15 kg and lengths up to 1.5 metres and the average size and weight is reported to be 0.5–1.5 kg and 40–50 cm.

The 60 pound flathead in the story that caught our attention is actually a flathead catfish caught on Ohio's Seneca Lake by Bass fisherman Ken Hewitt. What a shame though, a 60lb lizard would have been one hell of a story.

Father's Day Gift Guide

2011-08-09T16:03:00.001+10:00

Father's Day will soon be upon us - in case you've forgotten, this year in Australia Father's Day is Sunday 4 September.

By now you're probably wondering what to get dad for father's day, and maybe if you're lucky even been asked for some ideas by the kids.

Don't worry, you won't be stuck with jocks and socks this father's day. As usual, your mates at FishMax are here to help!

Check out the great father's day gift ideas including the latest from Shimano, Driza-Bone, Fusion Sound and more in our Father's Day Fishing Guide Page 1 Page 2 Page 3.

Win A Great Father's Day Prize

2011-08-08T12:59:00.003+10:00

Custom Fishing Accessories Perfect for Father's Day

Get Dad what he really wants this father's day, something to remind him every day of the one that didn't get away! Something showing the world a photo of him and a big fish!

Australian online photo gift and stationery company, Mango Monkey, specialises in making bespoke products using your favourite fishing photos and this year they have some great personalised gifts for fishing Dads which you can check out here.

If your dad has a great fishing photo, Mango Monkey can help him enjoy it all year round with unique and affordable products that are designed to make memories last.

Mango Monkey products include innovative personalized photo gifts such as wallets, computer bags, notebooks, aprons and travel mugs - all of which can be personalised with your dad’s or grandfather’s favourite fishing photos and messages.

Mango Monkey’s website is easy to use with a secure online process which makes ordering and uploading photos to Mango Monkey simple and fast. No additional software is required and the Mango Monkey team makes sure your photos look their best. Mango Monkey will crop and edit photos at no extra cost– and will even change photos to black and white or remove red eye if needed.

Check them out at http://www.mangomonkey.com.au/

Thanks to the generousity of Mango Monkey, we have Mango Monkey $25 gift vouchers to give away to four lucky FishMax readers. Simply enter your name and email below before Midnight August 19 to go in the draw.

Alpha Predators Join the Sardine Run

2011-08-06T16:29:00.004+10:00

We thought we'd share this great video sent in to us by one of our readers.

The largest of the predators to join the Sardine Run makes a startling arrival as it competes with sharks, dolphins and gannets to feed.

Amazing Sight While Fishing Mahi Mahi of Mexico

2011-08-04T16:21:00.010+10:00

One of the fantastic things about off-shore fishing is the opportunity to view amazing marine wildlife and few fishermen and fisherwomen are not moved to stop and observe when they see a passing pod of whales, dolphins or other sea mammals.

While Aussie fishermen on the Australian East Coast are currently enjoying some whale watching opportunities, fishermen in Baja Mexico are also having some close encounters. This video was sent to us by a reader showing a pod of orcas coming within a few feet of their charter boat while fishing Mahi Mahi (also known as Dorado or Dolphin fish) in Loreto, Baja Mexico.

For more on catching Mahi Mahi in Australia, check out our post last year.

Who Says You Need Expensive Gear to Catch Big Fish?

2011-08-02T15:13:00.023+10:00

It's probably not something we want our better halves to hear about, but we all know its true that you don't necessarily need expensive gear to catch big fish. Check out this monster salmon caught by little American, Finley Sullivan on, of all things, a babie rod!

Pink Barbie Fishing Rod Lands Big Salmon!

With Father's Day coming up, this Father and daughter fishing trip story warmed our hearts! During a trip a few years ago with her mum and dad, little Finley insisted on using her 3 foot barbie fishing rod and reel, and the result sure was satisfying to her, and her parents! It took 20 minutes of fighting and a fair bit of skill to land said King Salmon.

And if you think this is really a case of daddy letting his little girl say she caught the fish, check this pic out.

20 Minute Battle Lands King Salmon for Little Barbie Fan

Kent Sullivan, from Juneau, Alaska said " I tied on a fuchia Mepps spinner and made an initial cast for her. She reeled by herself and the rest is now family history—she says, "Daddy, I think I have a fish," and all of a sudden that rod is bent double. For 20 minutes Finley fought that king, a big one, all on that rod and that light test. And pretty soon we landed it on the beach. I couldn't have been prouder and niether could Finley. And, I could not imagine anyone getting a better father's day gift".

Reminder - Don't Fish in Thunderstorms!

2011-07-28T12:17:00.002+10:00

Lightening struck fishing rod

Recent media reports from the USA about two fishermen struck by lightening is a timely reminder to keep those rods down when thunder and lightening are about!

Montana fishermen, Gabe and Christian Neil were out fishing on Lake Harrisonville when lightening struck hiting Christian's custom graphite rod stopping his heart and setting his hair on fire and sending Gabe in to the water paralyzed.

Luckily for the father and sone team, a nearby fisherman heard the sound and came to their rescue. According to media reports they are now stable and are expected to make a full recovery.

Brisbane Boat Show Ticket Giveaway

2011-07-27T16:45:00.000+10:00

Queensland fishermen and boaties are excitedly looking forward to this year's Brisbane Boat Show 2011, starting on August 25.

Since 1961 the Brisbane Boat Show has been showcasing and promoting the benefits of a marine based lifestyle to the people of Queensland.

Returning to the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, and running from Thursday 25 August to Sunday 28 August, the 2011 Brisbane Boat Show is the perfect place to search for, compare and choose your new fishing boat, personal watercraft or boat motor.

To celebrate the 51st anniversary of this Brisbane fishing and boating institution, we've got two adult passes to give away (and children under 15 are free, so why not take the whole family!). Simply give us your name and email address using the below form before Midnight, Friday 12 August 2011 for your chance to be a winner. The winner will be drawn at random and contacted by email.

Funny Fishing Blooper Vid - Backing the Boat Trailer

2011-07-26T12:50:00.001+10:00

For this guy, when backing the boat trailer in to the water, what can go wrong, will go wrong! He even tries a hilarious boat trailer invention to make it easier, but even that goes wrong!

Great Fishing Blooper Video. Seen a funny fishing video lately? Send it in and we'll share it with our fishing friends!

New Meaning to Fly Fishing!

2011-07-24T14:58:00.012+10:00

English Man Fishes from Balloon!

Dave Newman, a British pub owner from Wilton near the River Wy has given new meaning to the term "fly fishing".

Mr Newman, thought he could improve his usual fly fishing routine by doing casting his line from a hot air balloon!

The Hereford Times reports that the balloon was initially designed for the use of TV reporters and cameramen looking to get some areal shots, but Mr Newman thought it would give him the best fishing position on the river.

Don't get too excited though, the newspaper also reported that Newman didn't catch a thing from his areal vantage point!

Love It or Hate It?

2011-07-22T16:45:00.000+10:00

We see some amazing things coming out of the good old US of A, land of the brave, home of the fisherman. They sure love their fishing in America but as regular FMX readers know, they can get a bit far out when it comes to some of their ads for fishing equipment.

Here's a clip we received today promoting the Shore Shot Bait Caster, featuring the Far Out Fishin Girls and an original tune by Dan Triano, president of Far Out Fishin. The Shore Shot Bait Caster costs $800 and the manufacturer claims it can fire line and bait up to 300m off shore.

To be honest, we're not sure if we love it or hate it? What do you think?

Frozen Fish Anyone?

2011-07-22T14:51:00.015+10:00

Here's a new take on fish in aquariums! Online news outlet CNET recently reported on the Kori no Suizokukan (Ice Aquarium) in Kesennuma, northeastern Japan, which packs about 450 specimens of marine life frozen in large columns of ice bathed in blue light. Visitors are able to see 80 fish species (all frozen) including saury, octopuses, crabs, and skipjack,

Japanese ice aquarium visitor views the frozen fish!

Opened to the public in 2002 in a japanese seafood market, the Ice Aquarium uses flash-freezing technology to preserve fresh fish unloaded in Kesennuma's port on the Pacific Ocean. Inside, the ambient air is a cool minus minus 20 C, and guests have to don parkas to keep warm!

Want more pictures of the Japanese Ice Aquarium? Take a look here.

Honda Over the Top Boat Ready to Go

2011-07-21T16:11:00.014+10:00

Can two Aussie's really take a RIB "over the top" to raise $200,000 for Cancer Council Australia for research into effective prostate cancer detection and treatment? Skipper Peter Jenkins and his brother Phillip certainly think so.

The pair this week announced that the Honda-powered rigid inflatable boat (RIB) two brothers will call home for 10 weeks as they go ‘over the top' to raise funds and awareness of prostate cancer is ready for action.

After extensive sea trialling off the West Australian coast, the custom 8.6m Gemini Pro RIB has been refined to a point where both men are confident they will succeed in their Australian-first attempt to travel more than 9500km around Australia's coastline in a ‘rubber ducky'.

Honda Over The Top Expedition leader Peter Jenkins said he was looking forward to the event launch in just under two weeks' time.

"The boat has really been put through its paces in wild seas out to Rottnest Island, calm conditions on the Swan River and everything in between," Mr Jenkins said.

"Although the boat proved itself to handle rough conditions with ease, maintaining a speed of 23kt in some very poor weather, we've had a taste of just how exhausting the expedition will be... it certainly won't be a holiday!

"All onboard systems are working perfectly and the boat is propped to deliver maximum performance and efficiency.

"With the twin Honda BF225 engines linked in to the Furuno electronics we're able to accurately monitor our fuel consumption, which is less than two litres per nautical mile at speeds in excess of 23kt... very impressive."

Leaving from the Sydney International Boat Show on 1 August and finishing nearly two months later in Perth, the Honda Over The Top Expedition has a number of planned stopovers at locations along the east coast and right across the top.

The Honda Over The Top Expedition has attracted significant support from the boating and marine community including and aims to raise $200,000 for Cancer Council Australia to help fund research into effective prostate cancer detection and treatment.

Keep an eye out for news of fundraising events in your local area, or donate online at http://www.overthetop.com.au/

Dogs Swimming with Sharks Updated

2011-07-21T12:28:00.002+10:00

In an update of our dogs herding sharks story we ran a couple of days ago, we've now spoken to Russell Hood-Penn, who took the video and have a few more details about this great clip.

Russell who is on a 4 month adventure with his wife, filmed the clip at the One Arm Point Community about 200km north of Broome, WA. Russell and his wife obtained the necessary permits and visited the community , who are members of the Bardi tribe and who have lived in the area for tens of thousands of years. The dogs are community dogs and swim with the sharks regularly. To see the clip again, here it is:

Russell also confirmed that the dugong you see in the clip was taken by the local Bardi people, and as far as he is aware, within appropriate guidelines.

Corio Bay + Soft Plastics = Flathead

2011-07-20T14:40:00.007+10:00

Guest contributor Rhett Thorne from Mad Keen Yak Angling targets Flathead, Rock Cod and Barramundi off Corio Bay Central Qld.

Sunrise over Corio Bay

After launching the boat in the upper reaches of Waterpark Creek at Corbetts Landing we headed down the passage at sunrise. I was fortunate enough to be invited by Daniel and Renee to fish with them for the day in Corio Bay targeting mainly Dusky Flathead, Goldspot Rockcod and Barramundi.

We started by casting our soft plastic lures over a sand flat for the first target fish, dusky flathead. The tackle I was using was my Okuma Flame 30 and my Okuma graphite Travel Spin spooled with Sufix DuraFlex monofilament. It wasn’t long before we were landing flathead around the 35-45cm mark, tagging and releasing them.

The writer's first fish of the day

After changing locations, we commenced casting our soft plastics at the flathead up close to the banks. Renee was soon hooked up to the largest flathead so far that measured 52cm and had already been tagged. The tag code and fish length was recorded so it could be reported as a recapture.

It was around then that we noticed a couple of other anglers that skillfully landed their small boat directly on top of a shallow sandbar. We were deep into discussion about whether their desired fishing spot was intentional, the answer becoming apparent when they jumped out to push the boat off the sandbar.

Large Flatty caught on the writer's Okuma Combo

With the outgoing tide we again changed our location to a slightly deeper section where we cast hardbodies in hope for barramundi lurking around the rock piles for mullet and herring. Daniel hooked I nice fish which put up a good fight, but disappointingly turned out to be a pesky barracuda. With no further luck we put our baitcasters away and continued casting our soft plastics around some rocks that met a sand flat. We caught a few more flathead and some goldspot rockcod over the rocky area. I decided to cast my lure up towards the sandflat and twitched a few times. As soon as the lure started to sink I kept the tension on my line and felt the most subtle bump. My line zigzagged and ran through the water. As I tightened the drag of my Flame 30, the bend in my Okuma Spin rod increased. The fish slowly came closer to the boat where Daniel was awaiting it with the landing net. The fish was one hefty Dusky Flathead measuring 65.5cm which was the biggest flatty of the day, and a new P.B for myself.

65.5 cm Dusky Flathead tagged and released

Soon after, we started heading back up Waterpark Creek and continued to cast our hardbodies in the hope of a couple nice barra. I was using an Okuma V200a baitcaster on an Okuma Travel rod which produced accurate casts into the snags, especially with my floating Rapala saltwater X-rap in the albino shiner colour. After alot of non productive casts, Daniel caught the one and only Barramundi of the trip. A couple casts later he hooked a flathead on his hard body barra lure.

The total catch of the day was 30 dusky flathead, 6 goldspot rockcod, 5 wire net rockcod, 1 barracuda and 1 barramundi. Not a bad day when 36 of the fish are tagged and all the fish are released to live another day.

Thorne loves is Okuma Combos

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

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