Oldest Snapper Ever Caught

Posted on May 16, 2014 by getfishing

By Jeff Norriss – Finfish Research – Dept. of Fisheries, Western Australia

On the 1^st of September 2007, Bruce Olsen went fishing about 10 miles off Bunbury, and hooked into a big snapper. He got it up on deck – it measured 94 cm and about 10 kg. Not a record breaker but nevertheless quite respectable.

Fillets on big snapper can be a bit stringy, so Bruce released it. But it was a floater so he recovered it and put it in his esky. Might be good for fish patties.

When he was back at the jetty Bruce had a photo taken of him holding the fish, after all you don’t catch snapper that big every day. It had the bulbous nose typical of old adult males, and a face only a mother could love. It made for a good photo.

Bruce Olsen holding the record breaking oldest snapper in Australia

After filleting Bruce did the right thing and donated the fish frame to the Department of Fisheries WA for research purposes. They are running a Send Us Your Skeletons program, collecting frames of recreationally caught fish to assess the health of stocks. The main use of the frames is to extract the otoliths (ear stones), which have growth rings like a tree trunk, to age the fish. Watch a video on how to remove otoliths here.

A few months passed until Fisheries contacted Bruce to tell him the age of his fish: a staggering 40 years and 10 months. It was the oldest pink snapper they had seen.

Fisheries contacted other Australian fisheries agencies asking if they knew of snapper this old. The Victorians said they had a snapper caught in Port Phillip Bay in 2001 that was 40 years and 5 months, slightly younger than Bruce’s. South Australia and New South Wales both had 37 year olds, and Queensland only 23 years.

Bruce was the winner. He had Australia’s oldest snapper, and he’d taken a photo, which he gave to Fisheries.

Fisheries published the photo and results in a peer reviewed scientific journal. Longevity is actually an important parameter for assessing fish stocks.

So, there’s this photo of Bruce Olsen holding a big snapper, just like any typical fisho holding their catch, but it’s published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, the caption reading Australia’s oldest recorded snapper.

The moral of this story, ladies and gentlemen, is to donate your fish frames (fresh or frozen, with guts intact if possible) to the Department of Fisheries for research. There are quarterly prizes available, and an annual grand prize of a week-long charter fishing trip for two to the Montebello Islands. Details of species required and freezer drop-off points can be found on the Department OF Fisheries WA web page Send Us Your Skeletons.

Bruce Olsen donated his frame, became an Australian record holder, and had the whole thing put on the scientific record.

Lake Macquarie Hot Water Outlet Closures

Posted on May 16, 2014 by getfishing

NSW DPI have released a notice warning that out-of-season fishing in and around the Lake Macquarie hot water outlet will be targeted with regular fisheries patrols. Fishing in the area is closed until the 31st August annually between the hours of 6pm-6am. The reason for the closures is to protect juvenile fish stocks which congregate in the warm waters.

Lake Macquarie Hot Water Outlet

The following information was provided by NSW DPI Fisheries:

Fishers are reminded seasonal fishing closures are now in place at hot water outlet canals
near the Eraring and Vales Point Power Stations on Lake Macquarie as an operation gets
underway targeting illegal fishing in these areas.

Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Supervising Fisheries Officer, Lee Burdett, said the
canals and adjacent waters are closed to all methods of fishing annually until 31st August
between the hours of 6pm and 6am.

“DPI fisheries officers are targeting illegal fishing in hot water outlet canals of the Eraring
and Vales Point Power Stations on Lake Macquarie and other hotspots in the Hunter and
Central Coast over the cooler months,” Ms Burdett said.

“The closures aim to protect juvenile fish stocks which aggregate in large numbers in and
around the warm waters of the outlet canals.

“Angling in these waters, particularly at night, causes a high rate of mortality among fish
that are yet to recruit to the recreational fishery – the Lake Macquarie Recreational Fishing
Haven.

“The annual closures have been in place for at least 15 years and the areas are well
signposted with details on the locations and where and when fishing is prohibited.”

Ms Burdett said fishers can be issued on the spot fines ranging from $75 to $500 and
prosecution of offenders may lead to penalties of up to $22,000.

“Fishing in hot water outlet canals is a serious offence and fishers have been fined and
prosecuted for fishing during seasonal closures in previous years,” she said.

“I would like to encourage all fishers to follow the rules to protect and conserve our fish
stocks and aquatic habitats for present and future generations.”

Detailed information on the fishing rules can be found at www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au or in
the NSW Saltwater Fishing Guide which is available from DPI fisheries offices and most
bait and tackle stores.

Seafood Training For Chefs

Posted on May 14, 2014 by getfishing

Australian chefs will be given the opportunity to further their skills in the realm of cooking seafood with the introduction of a specially designed online course. Our Aussie chefs who are keen to branch out into seafood currently feel they are not getting the formal training they require during their three-year training to become a chef. Curtin University’s researchers hope to change this with their new online training program.

Fresh Oysters; surprisingly many chefs don’t know what to do with them

The following information was released by Curtin University:

Australia is renowned for its abundance of quality seafood but many young chefs are not comfortable working with ocean produce – a trend Curtin University researchers are hoping to change through a specially designed online training program.

Dr Janet Howieson, from Curtin’s Centre of Excellence for Science, Seafood and Health, said the project stemmed from research interviews with up to 60 chefs across Australia. The chefs expressed a desire for greater knowledge of seafood supply chains, and a need for strategies to increase confidence in handling and preparing seafood, particularly for apprentice chefs and commercial cookery students.

“In their three years of training to become chefs, most apprentices will spend only eight days of formal learning how to select, handle and prepare seafood. On-the-job training can also be limited with the hectic schedules of other restaurant staff,” Dr Janet Howieson said.

“As a result, apprentices have reported feeling less confident working with seafood. Given the importance of seafood to the Australian diet, this is clearly a situation that needs to be addressed.

“We have produced a series of videos using a variety of seafood to help increase knowledge about it in commercial cookery and apprentice chef training courses. We also hope to make it available to schools and the home cook.”

Six popular Australian species were focused on in the training package, which tracks rock lobsters, oysters, farmed barramundi, snapper, sardines and prawns from harvest to restaurant door.

“The training resources also aim to help wait staff in restaurants when discussing menu choices with diners, so they can explain where the fish came from and accurately describe its texture and flavours,” Dr Janet Howieson said.

Topics covered include processing and supply, how the seafood gets to the restaurant door, recommended procedure for receiving and checking the condition of the seafood and cooking techniques.

Leading chefs have been involved in the project including Pete Manifis (Inconto Restaurant), Josh Catalano (Catalano Seafood) and Don Hancey (Panorama Catering).

All three feature in the presentations which have been piloted with apprentice chefs and commercial cookery students at the West Coast Institute of Training in Joondalup. The videos will now be made available to the wider training community across Australia.

Curtin University worked on the project with Australian Seafood Cooperative Research Centre, West Coast Institute of Training, Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, and leaders in the seafood and hospitality trades in Western Australia.

The videos were officially launched as part of the training curriculum on May 12 at the West Coast Institute of Training restaurant in Joondalup.

Monster Snapper Caught Off The Rocks

Posted on May 13, 2014 by getfishing

When asked ‘What is your dream fish?’, many Australian Anglers would answer ‘A big snapper over 10kg’. There’s something special about big snapper, or ‘reds’ as many prefer to call them, that sets them high up on an anglers pedestal. Characteristics that give snapper their status, apart from their obvious handsome appearance and eating qualities, include their notorious hard hit and blistering first run, their knee-wobbling head thumps, their skittish feeding behavior and their ability to dictate terms during a fight. Snapper fight dirty when hooked in shallow water, busting off even the most experienced anglers in the blink of an eye. Fighting a snapper in shallow water is like battling an out-of-control freight train as they scour the broken bottom for any opportunity to cut you off. Fishos who so passionately fish for snapper know this feeling all too well and it’s on that note that I would like you to grasp the sheer achievement of this 16kg fish caught off the rocks by Nathan Brown in April 2014.

Nathan Brown showcasing the monster 16kg snapper he caught off the rocks in Albany, WA

Nathan brown is an ordinary Aussie bloke who loves his fishing. By day he earns his crust as a coppice worker at Albany in WA’s South West, specialising in after-harvest maintenance of plantation trees like Bluegums. However, on the weekends and at any available opportunity Nathan can be found rock-hopping the coastal granite cliffs around Albany with his mates. The relatively deep water adjacent to rock platforms and cliffs in the area gives rise to fantastic land based fishing opportunities. Species that can be found here include blue groper, snapper, samsonfish, tuna, salmon, kingfish and more. Nathan and his mates are no strangers to landing big fish from the stones, however on this day none of them could predict the size of the snapper they were about to connect with.

The boys arrived at their fishing spot shortly after daylight and were fishing by 7am. They started the morning flicking lures for pelagics. After catching a handful of salmon and bonito the session was about to get serious. They whipped the fillets off their catch and belted them out in hope for something more substantial while they berleyed with the frames and old fish bait. While Nathan and the others were using small chunks of fresh fillet for bait, Nathan’s mate Jacob decided to cast out a large slab of bonito. That’s when all hell broke loose. At about 9am Jacobs rod buckled over as he sank the hook into the first big fish of the day. The fish took so much line on it’s first run leading everyone to believe Jacob had hooked a samsonfish. After a 5 minute battle the subdued fish neared the rocks. As it broke the surface everyone’s eyes lit up as they gazed upon a snapper in the order of 10kg bumping it’s head in the wash. While the crew prepared to land the fish it took one last run and busted off on the rocks. With no further ado, everyone got a line back in the water and within 5 minutes they were on again. This time a 9kg snapper was successfully landed, setting the scene for the rest of the morning. Every few casts (roughly half an hour or so) someone would connect to another horse snapper.

Jacob Crispe with a land based snapper caught on a large chunk of bonito

One guy got busted off by three fish, another landed four, and by 12pm Nathan was starting to wonder if he’d get a shot at one himself. Realising that the snapper were all taking large baits, Nathan cast out a 10cm x 10cm chunk of bonito. Soon afterwards he got the hit of a lifetime on his 7-foot rod. As the braid poured from his reel in a fashion much harder than the others had experienced, he began to question his first thoughts of snapper and was beginning to think he’d perhaps hooked a rogue samsonfish. Five to ten minutes later the fish surfaced and all were gobsmacked by their first glimpse of the enormous head and proboscis-like blue nose of the monster snapper staring back at them. The swell was quite rough on the day but luckily they were fishing in a sheltered area and had a calm place to safely gaff the fish. After a few photos were taken and as the adrenalin started to settle, the guys finally began to comprehend the physical enormity of the fish and the mind blowing session they’d just experienced. Nathan says he can’t describe the feeling of when he caught the snapper, it wasn’t his biggest land based capture but definitely his best.

Another angle of Nathan Brown’s 16kg land based snapper caught in April 2014

Luck was on Nathan’s side on the day. During the fight the fish did it’s best to bust off, hitting the reef on a couple of occasions, worrying him as he felt the line rubbing against the rocks. Experience paid off in this instance because Nathan was using 100lb leader. Had he been using lighter leader he says he would have lost the fish. Furthermore, the fish actually bit down on the hook, closing the gape so that there was no chance of it falling out.

In total five snapper were landed during the seven-hour session and another five or six were lost. All of the fish were around the 1m mark, 90cm being the smallest and 13kg being the second biggest. Nathan’s monster hit the scales at just under 16kg, roughly 2.5kg shy of the 18.4kg state record and quite possibly a state or national land based record. He was using his mate’s new 7-foot Penn Spinfisher rod and Pflueger Salt 80 reel loaded with 80lb braid. The rig used was a 100lb paternoster rig with a single dropper, 5/0 tarpon hook and 6oz snapper lead. His mate Jacob was using a snell rig. Some may think that 100lb leader is excessive. However, these guys know their stuff and the terrain they fish regularly. On numerous occasions heavy leader has made the difference between landing a fish of a lifetime and not. When you see the caliber of some of their catches over the years you soon realise that when extracting big fish from the stones you can’t give them an inch. To land big fish regularly off the rocks anglers need to ensure that all of their gear is in perfect working order and that their terminal gear is up to the challenge, not to mention your own physical strength and fitness.

Anyone now thinking about packing the car and hitting the rocks for a session, just be mindful that rock fishing has it’s inherent risks and is not for everyone. Rock fishing is an extremely dangerous sport. Not because you always get hurt, but because it only takes one simple mistake or lapse in judgement and it’s all over. Rock fishermen/women are extremely experienced anglers and have a firm respect for the ocean. They understand the dangers involved. If you are relatively inexperienced at rock fishing, lack confidence, are less nimble, or just unsure whether you are ready to fish off the rocks, please don’t jump right in at the deep end. Work you way up to it by developing the necessary skill set. Start by fishing off the rocks in estuaries, fish the beach regularly until you get a grasp of the ocean, fish from heights off bridges and piers, then finally off sheltered low-lying ledges or rock walls in protected coastal waters on a very low swell. Never fish alone. When you are relatively inexperienced make sure that your buddy is an experienced rock fisher and is willing to teach you the ropes.

Below are a some photos of fish that Nathan and other Albany local, Cowan Wise, have caught from the rocks over the years:

Nathan Brown with a solid western blue groper caught July 2013

A big yellowtail kingfish caught by Nathan Brown in Jan 2013

Cowan Wise with an Albany samsonfish fresh out of the water displaying blotchy colouration

Albany local Cowan Wise. Winner of our April 2014 Rapala Fish Of The Month Competition

Safe fishing from the team at Get Fishing!

By Robbie Riches – Get Fishing Founder and Managing Director

Let there be fish! Sydney focuses on global initiative

Posted on May 13, 2014 by getfishing

Anglers from Sydney and NSW are invited to attend the free event ‘Let there be fish’. The event will focus on the importance of Australian fish migration, the man-made structures that inhibit their migration, and the measures that can be taken to provide fish with safe passage around these barriers when they need to spawn. The event will be held on World Fish Migration Day, at Lane Cove Weir on the 24th May 2014.

Australian bass, an iconic native species and popular recreational fishing target

The following information was released by the NSW Fisheries:

The Sydney fishing community is invited to attend Let there be fish!, a free event planned for World Fish Migration Day, at Lane Cove Weir on the 24th May.

Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Regional Officer Scott Nichols said World Fish Migration Day is a global initiative, co-ordinating local events worldwide to raise awareness of the importance of open rivers for migratory fish.

“Migration for fish is crucial to achieve healthy fish stocks, especially for Australian bass, which migrate from freshwater to estuaries to spawn, after which the adults and young then migrate back upstream,” Mr Nichols said.

“Over half of the native fish species in Australia need to migrate at least once to be able to complete key stages of their life cycle.”

“Man-made structures such as weirs, road crossings and floodgates inhibit the free passage for native fish, restricting their access to habitat within river systems.

“The Let there be fish! event will be held at the fishway that has recently been installed on Lane Cove Weir, to demonstrate the benefit it will bring for this iconic native species.

The Lane Cove Weir fishway

“The fishway shows the importance of healthy functioning fish habitat, and the contribution it provides to all fishers and the general community.

Mr Alan Izzard, Bass Sydney Fishing Club Environmental Project Officer said that fishways such as this at Lane Cove have also helped scientists learn more about fish movements.

“Since the fishway was installed our catch and release records show an increase in fish numbers upstream, confirming the important role open rivers play in sustaining native fish species” Mr Izzard said.

Let there be fish! features informative talks and a walking tour of the Lane Cove Weir fishway and habitat restoration site. A free BBQ lunch will also be provided.

The event begins at 10.00am at the National Parks offices, Lane Cove Weir in the Lane Cove National Park.

Let there be fish! is a joint event by DPI, Bass Sydney Fishing Club, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Fish Habitat Network.

Early Closure of Cockburn Sound Crab Fishery

Posted on May 12, 2014 by getfishing

Recreational fishing for blue swimmer crabs in WA’s Cockburn Sound will end early this year on Wednesday 14 May after concerns about low stock levels. Previously the season was set to close on 15 June 2014. Scientists are not quite sure what has caused the unusually low numbers of crabs and are taking precautionary measures to protect the breeding stocks. Commercial fishers have already done the right thing and implemented their own voluntary closure from 16 April 2014.

The following information was released by the WA Fisheries on 12 May 2014:

The Department of Fisheries is introducing an early end to the current season for the Cockburn Sound crab fishery, to protect blue swimmer crab breeding stocks and the recreational fishing closure will come into force on Wednesday this week (14 May 2014).

Early closure is a precautionary measure and follows a stock assessment of the Sound’s blue
swimmer crab resource, which is accessed by both commercial and recreational crab fishers.
The decision was made after examining catch and survey data collected between December
2013, when the commercial and recreational fisheries opened, and March 2014. The data showed a significant decline in the number of crabs in Cockburn Sound.

South West Bioregions Manager Tim Nicholas said the department had been working closely
with the State’s peak fishing bodies – Recfishwest and the WA Fishing Industry Council – to
assess the health of the blue swimmer crab stock.

“We all agree the research is providing warning signs and that it is time to cease crab fishing for this season, to provide the Cockburn Sound crab stock some respite,” Mr Nicholas said.

“It is not yet known what caused the decline in crab numbers; research scientists believe the
major factors are environmental and biological rather than fishing-related. While we cannot
control the environmental and biological factors, we can take precautions to assist with recovery of the breeding stock by reducing all crab fishing activity in the Sound until we know more.”

Mr Nicholas said commercial fishers had implemented a voluntary closure from 16 April and
recent recreational crab fishing activity had begun to drop off, so imposing the formal closure at this time in the year was not expected to be disruptive to the majority of recreational crab fishers.

“This proactive approach mirrors the department’s successful management measures for blue
swimmer crabs in Cockburn Sound in December 2006, when it was closed to commercial and recreational crab fishing for three years,” he said.

“The department has also managed the protection of breeding stock and recovery of other
fisheries impacted by environmental factors, such as rock lobster; WA’s most valuable fishery.
As a normal part of adaptive fisheries management, we take a responsible approach to what the scientific research shows as well as considering the economic and social implications.”

There will be a review of the Cockburn Sound crab fishery in October, prior to decisions being
made about possible re-opening on 15 December 2014. Information about the closure is
available online at www.fish.wa.gov.au.

Repeat offender caught with illegal eels on south coast

Posted on May 12, 2014 by getfishing

A commercial fisher on the NSW south coast has been caught trying to illegally export $15,000 worth of live eels. The Tathra man violated many state fishing rules. We congratulate NSW Fisheries for their investigative efforts and hope that the courts impose the deserved penalty and even jail time for this low act.

Eel traps used by the commercial fisher

The following information was released by the NSW Fisheries on Friday 9 May:

A commercial fisher has been apprehended in possession of hundreds of kilograms of eels on the far south coast of NSW, Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Director Fisheries Compliance Glenn Tritton said today.

“During a targeted patrol, fisheries officers apprehended a 61 year-old Tathra man offloading almost 700 kilograms of live eels to a truck allegedly owned by a Sydney based fish receiver,” Mr Tritton said.

“The eels, illegally stored in a farm dam on a private rural property near Verona, were destined for the export market and had an estimated value of $15,000.

“The alleged offender is not allowed to store any eels in freshwater, farm dams or areas closed to commercial fishing.

“Officers seized seven eel traps, 589 kilograms of live Longfin eels and almost ten kilograms of live Shortfin eels.

“Another 88 kilograms of live eels, including four of a prohibited size, were also seized and subsequently released back into the waters of the farm dam.

Some of the Eels stored illegally in a private farm dam

“Fisheries officers will allege that the man contravened the conditions of his commercial fishing licence, was in possession of illegal fishing gear, possession of fish illegally taken and had possession of undersize eels.”

Mr Tritton said each of the charges carries a maximum fine of $22,000 and/or six months imprisonment.

“Earlier this year fisheries officers apprehended another commercial fisher illegally taking eels in freshwater and will continue to be vigilant to help maintain healthy and sustainable fisheries for future generations,” Mr Tritton said.

“Property owners who are approached by persons claiming they are commercial fishers and are allowed to fish for eels in freshwater dams should ask for proof of the fishers permit issued by the Department.

“If landholders are just not sure, they can always contact their local fisheries office and speak with a Fisheries Officer.”

Anyone with information about illegal fishing should contact the Fishers Watch phoneline on 1800 043 536 or make a report online at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/compliance

Southern Bluefin Tuna Seized at Portland VIC

Posted on May 12, 2014 by getfishing

Three recreational fishers have had their catch confiscated by DEPI fisheries for exceeding their catch limit for Southern Bluefin Tuna. The men had 10 Southern Bluefin in possession, well above the allowed 6 between them. The men were also found to be in possession of a commercial lobster pot.

This sort of behavior is frowned upon by most recreational anglers who do the right thing and adhere to the designated bag limits. Southern Bluefin Tuna provide a high yield of flesh per fish, are best eaten fresh, and a bag limit of 2 fish is more than enough to feed your immediate family and friends (depending on size) plus have a few feeds stored away in the freezer. It is particularly disgusting to see the level of greed displayed in this instance considering this species is highly vulnerable to over fishing.

The following information was released by DEPI VIC Fisheries:

Three men were detained by Fisheries Officers at the Portland boat ramp on Anzac Day last Friday in relation to allegedly exceeding the catch limit for southern blue fin tuna.

DEPI Regional Fisheries Officer Paul Millar said a search of their boat allegedly revealed 10 southern blue fin tuna and an amateur lobster pot.

“The men were questioned regarding allegedly exceeding the catch limit for southern blue fin tuna and possessing commercial fishing equipment.

“All the tuna and the lobster pot were seized,” he said.

“It is expected the men will be summonsed to appear at Portland Magistrate’s Court later this year.”

Mr Millar reminded anglers to be aware of the difference between southern blue fin tuna and albacore and adhere to the legislated catch limit of two southern blue fin tuna and five albacore.

“The vast majority of tuna and albacore anglers understand their target species and adhere to catch limits.

“Southern blue fin tuna is a Victorian priority species with specific catch limits and albacore [distinguished from southern blue fin tuna by their long pectoral fin] often school together and are caught at the same time.”

Mr Millar said inspections of tuna/albacore anglers will continue throughout the season.

He reminded anyone with any information about the illegal take of these species or any other illegal fishing offences is urged to contact the 13FISH hotline on 133 474.

Public forum on Snowy Mountains lakes trout fishery

Posted on May 12, 2014 by getfishing

A public forum to discuss the Snowy Mountains lakes trout fishery is scheduled at the end of May. Recreational fishers are invited to attend to express their opinions and learn more about the fishery. NSW DPI Fisheries managers and scientists will be present, providing a great opportunity for local and visiting anglers to gain first hand information.

The following information was released by the NSW Fisheries:

Recreational Fishers are invited to attend a public forum on the Snowy Mountains Lakes trout fishery with Department of Primary Industries (DPI) managers and scientists in Cooma on 29 May 2014.

DPI Inland Senior Fisheries Manager, Cameron Westaway, said some fishers have reported reduced catches of rainbow trout in Lakes Jindabyne and Eucumbene during the past two years.

“Brown trout catches have continued to remain stable in the lakes and the brown trout spawning fishery has been excellent, however we have received reports of lower rainbow
trout catches from some fishers using traditional surface and shore based fishing methods,” Mr Westaway said.

“Meanwhile other fishers have reported good catches of rainbow trout using deeper trolling
methods.

“Various theories for these changes in catch rates have been suggested by the public.
These fisheries provide significant social and economic benefits to the region and we are
committed to their long term success.

“The forum will give fishers the opportunity to hear about the current trout stocking program, management practices, and updates on research.

“Leading New Zealand scientist, Dr Michel Dedual, from the Department of Conservation in Turangi will provide insights into the iconic Taupo trout fishery which has also experienced changes in catch rates of rainbow trout in recent times.

“Importantly the forum will enable DPI managers to gain feedback from the fishing public on some of the most popular trout fishing locations in NSW. This feedback will assist DPI and the angler based Snowy Lakes Strategy Working Group who provide direct advice on the management of the fishery.

“Interested fishers are invited to attend the free forum at the Cooma Ex-Services Club at 6:00pm on Thursday 29 May 2014.”

Fishers are also reminded that it will be a great opportunity to fish the Thredbo River and Eucumbene River trout spawning runs before the trout closed season begins on 10 June
2014.

Detailed information on the fishing rules can be found at www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au or in the NSW Freshwater Fishing Guide which is available from DPI fisheries offices and most bait and tackle stores.

Rapala Fish Of The Month

Posted on May 9, 2014 by getfishing

Submit your photo for a chance to win!

Each month we give away two Rapala prizes for the best photos of people holding their catch.

The major prize, Get Fishing’s Choice, is chosen by us and the winner receives $150 worth of Rapala gear PLUS their photo featured on our homepage.

The second prize, People’s Choice, is determined by public vote and the winner receives $50 worth of Rapala gear. Prizes vary each month.

Terms and Conditions

• Instructions on how to enter, prize details and other information contained within the promotional advertisements form part of these terms and conditions. By participating in this promotion you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions.

• Entry is open to Australia residents over the age of 13, however, parents can submit photos of their kids under the age of 13. Winners under the age of 18 must be represented by a parent or guardian for the purposes of claiming and collecting their prize.

• Competition is open to Australian residents only. Owners, employees or administrators of Get Fishing and immediate families, are ineligible to enter.

• This is a Fish Of The Month competition and all photos must include the person who caught the fish holding up their catch. The fish must be fresh out of the water (alive) and not dead. Only photos of fish caught during the current month will be valid. Entries of fish caught previously will be disqualified.

• Photos of sharks will not be accepted nor will photos of fish caught while commercial fishing or on board commercial fishing vessels. Photos of fish caught by paying customers aboard fishing charters are ok and will be accepted.

• The promotion runs each month and entries are to be submitted by 11.59pm Australian Western Standard Time (WST) on the last day of the month. Only entries received by this time will be valid.

• To enter the competition you MUST be a Get Fishing member. If you are not currently a member simply register as a member here: http://getfishing.com.au/register/

• How to enter: 1) Entries can either be posted in our Rapala Fish Of The Month forum or posted to our Get Fishing Facebook page. 2) You must tell us briefly about the fish, who is holding the fish, what date you caught it, where you caught it and what you caught it on.

• There is no entry fee for participation in the promotion.

• Winner: There will be two winners each month. 1) The major prize winner will be chosen by public vote. We will post the finalists in the forum and on Facebook for 5 days where people can vote for the winner (one vote per person). 2) The winner of the minor prize will be selected by our judges based on quality of the fish as well as quality of the photo. Winners will receive the Rapala prizes advertised for the relevant month.

• The monthly winners of the competition will be determined within 7 days after the end of the month and notified by phone or email by a representative of Get Fishing. The winner will be announced online at www.getfishing.com.au on and on our Facebook Page.

•The prize is not exchangeable for cash or any other prize.

• The prize will be posted (registered post) to winners within two weeks (14 days) of the date on which the winner accepts the prize. We cannot, however, guarantee delivery of these prizes by a specific date. Should the prize fail to be delivered by Australia Post within three weeks of the winner accepting the prize we will supply the winner with the registered post tracking number so that they may pursue delivery of the prize themselves. NO replacement prizes will be sent.

• All contestants release from, and indemnify Get Fishing, against all liability, cost, loss or expense arising out of acceptance of any prize(s) or participation in the competition including (but not limited to) loss of income, personal injury and damage to property and whether direct or consequential, foreseeable, due to some negligent act or omission or otherwise.

• Get Fishing accepts no responsibility for any loss, damage, accident, death or injury resulting from the promotion.

• Get Fishing reserves the right to amend the rules, terms and conditions of their competitions at any time, or to suspend this or any competition, as it sees fit. Get Fishing may also create rules that apply to a specific competition only. If we do this we will publish the amended or specific competition rules on the relevant competition page(s) of our website and on our Facebook page.

• Entry into this competition signifies acceptance of all conditions. Your entry indicates and attests to this. The Promoter’s decision will be final and cannot be contested. No correspondence will be entered into. The Promoter reserves the right to limit entry or amend rules if considered necessary without notice.

• ANY ATTEMPT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEBSITE OR THE INFORMATION ON A WEBSITE, OR TO OTHERWISE UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THIS PROMOTION, MAY BE A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, WHETHER SUCCESSFUL OR NOT, THE PROMOTER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE WHATEVER ACTION IT CONSIDERS NECESSARY AGAINST ANY PERSON WHO IS PARTY TO THE SAID CONDUCT

• Get Fishing reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any entrant that does not comply with any of the above, even after the entry is submitted on the competition website.

• This promotion is being run by Get Fishing, PO Box 1170, Hillarys, WA, 6923.

Golden Angler Hunt

Posted on May 9, 2014 by getfishing

FIND THE GOLDEN ANGLER & WIN

The Golden Angler Hunt starts Monday 12^th May with 2 x ‘Swivels Original’ Prize Packs worth $100 each up for grabs.

Here’s how you take part:

1) On Monday a Golden Angler will be hidden somewhere on our website www.getfishing.com.au.

2) Click around, scroll and browse the site to try and find The Golden Angler. It could be hidden in the Forums, Deals, How To’s, New Products, Fish Identification, anywhere really so keep your eyes peeled.

3) If you find the Golden Angler, submit your entry via the ‘Contact Us’ page with the link to where you found it. If correct you will go into the draw to win a Swivels Original $100 Prize Pack which will be drawn on June 12^th. Ed Mount from Adelaide was the first person to find the Golden Angler. For being the first person to find it Ed won himself a Swivel’s Original $100 Prize Pack. There’s one more prize pack up for grabs so Get Hunting!

The Golden Angler shown here is for demonstration purposes only. It is not the one we have hidden.

Terms and Conditions
Entrants must submit the correct link of the page where the Golden Angler is found via the ‘Contact Us’ page to complete entry. There is 1x Swivels Original Prize Pack (valued at $100) available for the first person to message the correct link. All other valid entrants who find the Golden Angler will be entered into a draw to win the second Swivels Original Prize Pack (also valued at $100). 1 winner will be chosen from the draw at random after the closing date and contacted within 14 days. Closing date for the competition is 12^th June 11:00 Australian EST. By entering the prize draw you agree to be bound by the Prize Draw Terms, Conditions & Rules which can be viewed below.

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Getfishing.com.au Prize Draw Terms, Conditions & Rules

Anemone Blue trading as Get Fishing.com.au. PO BOX 1170 Hillarys WA 6923.

Tel: 08 6468 4772

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Perth Metro Mackerel

Posted on May 7, 2014 by getfishing

When it comes to earning brownie points with the father in-law nothing better comes to mind than connecting him with a dream fish he’s always wanted to catch. So in my case, when the in-laws came to town recently it was a no-brainer that I should capitalise on the recent run of snapper and take the father in-law, an avid bream and flatty angler, out in search for big red.

Launching from Mindarie Boat Ramp in Perth’s northern suburbs we headed north west to a spot I had discovered only a few days prior. With the anchor rope pulling tight approximately 2m from the mark in 60ft of water it was time to get the berley flowing. Phil had the first bait in the water and within minutes of his first cast ever into WA waters his rod buckled over. It was game on and 12lb line emptied from his reel as a solid fish bounced underneath the boat in a fashion not resembling the target species snapper, but more like a slower but equally powerful WA Dhufish. After a 5 minute tussle we got colour as a respectable 4 to 4.5kg WA Dhufish surfaced. Talk about luck, Phil had managed one of WA’s most iconic fish species on his first cast and only minutes into the session.

Phil Brandon with the spoils of his first cast ever in Perth – a 4.5kg WA Dhufish

After a few quick pics were taken the dhufish was bled and placed on ice for that night’s dinner. It didn’t take Phil long to get his line back in the water and be connected again, this time to what we believed was a very large snapper in the order of 9kg plus. The fish hit hard and the screaming first run left Phil buried in the reef before he got a chance to even turn it.

Over the next couple of hours the fishing we experienced was in the upper level of awesomeness compared to a usual days fishing in Perth. Additional to the odd knee-rattling bust off we both managed to land respectable snapper in the order of 5-6kg, a couple of smaller snapper between 40-60cm. The bonito also turned up at one stage providing great fun on light tackle. Being a strong believer in catch and release and due to the fact there were fish fillets already in the freezer it was an easy decision to do the right thing and release both of the bigger snapper, giving them the opportunity to hopefully breed again and ensuring our fishery remains as healthy or if not better than it currently is.

Phil Brandon grinning as he shows off a fine Perth metro snapper

This snapper came as a result of an early start and consistent berleying

The bait of choice on the day was WA mulies, otherwise know to eastern staters as pilchards. There’s no surprise that mulies make for fantastic snapper bait due to their natural oiliness. On days when there’s lots of pickers around scalies might be favoured over mulies but on this particular day there were thankfully very few small fish around. We also threw 7″ plastics side by side with bait for a good hour or so with no success while at the same time our mulie baits were getting smashed.

With the current speed on the increase our size 1 ball sinkers were finding it hard to sink the bait into the strike zone, the lower third of the 20m water column. Up-sizing to a size 2 ball sinker paid off. As my bait neared the bottom I was hit hard, experiencing a simultaneous drag melting first run and losing over 150m of braid before the fish slowed and I got my first chance to turn it’s head and feel it’s true weight. As the fish neared the surface in the distance it had me scratching my head as to what it might be, simply because the possibilities of what it was just got narrower and narrower until it reached zero. The fact that I was using 30lb fluorocarbon leader to a single gamakatsu 6/0 octopus ruled out toothy critters like mackerel or shark, the fact that the fish came to the surface and hadn’t buried me in the reef already ruled out yellowtail kingfish and the shear speed of the fish ruled out samsonfish. After battling it out for about 5 minutes or so the first glance revealed the opponent and sent tingles through my body as nerves started to set in. It was a Spanish mackerel and a decent one at that. This explained the explosive first run and the surface interval that soon followed. Knowing that I was connected to sizable mack without any wire really did put me on edge, especially as the fish continued to scrap it out each time it neared the boat. After a few knee wobbling moments the metro mack was brought on board and it was celebrations all round. For those wondering, the fish was actually hooked right in the corner of it’s jaw and the hook basically popped free when the fish hit the deck. After we grabbed a few pics we began to comprehend how unlucky this fish was to be caught against all odds, especially at this time of year in the same 20 degree water where people were actually catching salmon.

One unlucky 14kg Spanish mackerel caught on fluorocarbon leader and a single hook

It’s worth noting the weather conditions on the day. The wind was blowing between 8-15knots ESE, it was overcast and the current was ripping to the south. Thinking back on some of the best snapper sessions I’ve had in Perth they all have one thing in common and that is a stronger than usual current. Whether the current be pushing from the north or south it doesn’t seem to matter as long as it’s strong. Without being able to give a definitive reason for the correlation between strong current and hot snapper bites, one theory that seems to fit is the fact that your berley is dispersed further afield in a stronger current. A wider distribution of berley means attracting more fish to the back of your boat. Whether this is the sole reason for greater snapper success or whether there are other contributing factors in times of strong current I’m not too sure, but one thing is for certain when it comes to inshore snapper fishing and that is ‘more run, more fun’.

By Robbie Riches – Get Fishing Founder and Managing Director

Australian Fishing Report – May 2014

Posted on May 2, 2014 by getfishing

NEW SOUTH WALES

Information provided by Otto’s Tackle World Drummoyne

Sydney:

Boat fishos are most likely aware of the plague proportions of juvenile mahi mahi out at the fads of late. A few better fish up to 7-8kg are being caught amongst them by persistent anglers.

Monster tailor between 5-7kg are being caught around local beaches and headlands on pilchards. Among the reports was one fish caught at Long Reef weighing in at 6kg.

Rock fishos have been catching plenty of blackfish off the rocks around local headlands but it’s still a bit early for drummer, although the odd one has been caught here and there. Those with a pelagic focus have been kept on their toes by good numbers of salmon and kingfish cruising the coastal rock platforms.

The rivers and bays are producing quality fish. Jewfish up to 55lb have been reported from Botany Bay on live mullet, likewise the Parramatta River has also been fishing well for Jew with Fish Candy and Transams working well.

South Coast:

Flatty fishing in the south coast estuaries is starting to pull back now with the onset of cooler weather. In saying that, there’s still some big lizards being caught as Daniel Dowley found out one day landing an 82.5cm croc while teaching his young man the ropes.

Daniel Dowley and son – Batemans Bay

Bream are still around in good numbers and trevally should also start pushing into rivers, lakes and bays as the temperature drops.

Batemans Bay local Jem Abbott has been catching some nice snapper off the rocks after rough weather. One session he managed 3 fish to 3.6kg plus some nice salmon and trevally, not to mention a few big bust offs by rogue kings.

Ray Smith, Wade Eaton and the boys from SC’s Fisha Mulisha have been smashing some quality fish around Eurobodalla this month. Whether they’re offshore chasing snapper, kings and drummer (yes that’s correct) on plastics or in the rivers chasing jew, they always seem to be in the thick of it. Keep up the good work guys and keep the pics rolling on Facebook.

SC’s Fisha Mulisha’s Wade Eaton – Black Drummer on plastic

North Coast:

Michael Jones of Newcastle has been getting into the action on Lake Macquarie this month. Among his typical estuary captures of bream, flatties and squire were some far from usual captures including kingfish to 90cm and even a sizable mahi mahi. Michael is in the running to win the People’s Choice prize in our Rapala Fish Of The Month competition with one of his kingy photos so with him luck.

Michael Jones – 90cm Lake Macquarie Kingfish

Along Tweed coastal beaches dart and tailor have been around in good numbers, likely the result of large supplies of baitfish pushing through along with the clear, warm water. Also seen chasing the baitfish are bonito and school mackerel. One angler seen fishing at Fingal managed about 10 tailor plus a few dart and bream in a short session at high tide along the beach. There’s also been reports of big flathead coming from Fingal Beach as well as whiting and long tom around Tweed beaches.

Other reports in the north of the state include spotty mackerel around Pottsville. Tweed 9-Mile has been fishing really well which is standard for this time of year. Wahoo and spanish mackerel around 10-15kg are going off at the moment along with small yellowfin tuna. Halco Laser Pros have been the undoing of many fish.

Wide of the shelf there have been reports of blue marlin and yellowfin tuna to 30kg. Small mahi mahi are still around in good numbers at the fads but no reports of big fish.

Freshwater:

Decent rain in the Snowy Mountains leads to high expectations of a good run of brown trout. Some large fish have been taken in Lake Eucumbene. As of 1^st May restrictions are now in place to protect breeding trout so remember to check the NSW Fisheries website for all the details before planning your next trip.

Bass are now quieting off after what has been a great season. The Shoalhaven in particular has been a good producer of fish in the 1-1.5kg bracket. Among the popular lures of choice this season have been Cicada surface lures and fly fishos have been doing well on Bass Vampires.

Geoff Coghill from WA’s leading real estate company, Peard Real Estate, recently fished the Edward River with a few mates on an annual fishing trip. The boys got amongst the action with plenty of small to medium cod being caught including a respectable 64cm specimen caught by Danny Germano.

Danny Germano – 64cm Murray Cod – Edward River NSW

QUEENSLAND

Information provided by The Tackle Warehouse Camp Hill, Fishing Warehouse Townsville and Gold Coast fishos Dan and Greggo Weaver

Brisbane:

Out in the bay there’s been some nice snapper caught up to 70cm, the majority being 40-50cm. The snapper fishing should improve hereon in as we head into the colder months of the year. Also starting to show up are mackerel, including mainly spotties and schoolies with the odd spanish further down the coast.

School jew are being caught in the river and bay on livies and soft plastics. Plastics which are producing results in the bay include 5” Gulp and Z-Man, while those fishing offshore for snapper and pearlies are opting for plastics around 7”. For advice on plastic fishing and more drop in and see the crew at The Tackle Warehouse in Camp Hill. The staff are regularly out on the water and have their finger on the pulse when it comes to what’s biting and where.

In other news threadfin have really started to slow down in the river and the same can be said for bass fishing up in the fresh. Squid are starting to turn up and among new jigs to try are the Sabiki Fiberlicious. Bream, whiting and flathead are still being caught in the bay and foreshore on baits, plastics and hard body lures. Bream have been smashing hard bodies such as Lucky Craft NW Pencils and topwater lures.

Gold Coast:

One of the highlights on the Goldy at present is the pelagic activity, particularly just south of the border down at Tweed 9-Mile. Plenty of wahoo and Spanish mackerel are being caught in the 10-15kg bracket along with small yellowfin tuna. In other news offshore snapper and jewfish should be starting to turn up around the local 24’s as the cold water starts pushing up, usually around the middle of May is a good time to be targeting these species. There have already been reports of some nice snapper to 60cm being caught on 5” plastics and also the odd tuskfish turning up. Early morning and late afternoon are prime times for snapper and jew with pilchards, filet baits and soft plastics being standard offerings that work well.

Bream, flatties and whiting are still being caught around bars and entrances between Southport and Tweed. Soft plastics as well as fresh nippers and worms have been working well which is not surprising. Nerang River has been producing some good numbers of bream and jacks around bridge pylons. People getting them have been using live herring and diving lures, the bigger the better when it comes to jacks. Jackall Squirrels are a lure worth mentioning.

The ABT Haswing BASS Electric Major was held at Hinze Dam on the 27^th April. Although the fishing was very slow a few lucky anglers were able to produce nice fish. Matt Johnson claimed victory weighing in 2/2, 2.59kg, with a Jackall Squirrel 61Sp fueled win over Colin McClymont (2/2, 2.30kg) in second place and Andrew Wilson (2/2, 2.22kg) in third. For more results visit the official ABT website www.abt.org.au.

Townsville:

The fishing in the Townsville region has been quite dim according to mick from Fishing Warehouse in Garbutt. There’s been a few billfish and mackerel caught out at the shoals for those putting in the hours, plus reports of a few nice fingermark coming off the shoals on plastics.

Off Cape Cleveland there’s been Spaniards up to 15kg getting around along with some nice queenies and golden trevally a couple of weeks back.

Freshwater continues to push out of the Herbert. While this has produced poor fishing a couple of legal barra have been caught there and a few barra are also getting caught in the freshwater sections of the Ross.

Bushland Beach and the front of the Black River are producing some nice catches of whiting up to 35cm on peeled prawns and yabbies.

Ross Zerk – 50lb worth of North QLD Estuary Cod – Released

Ethan Buschel – 51cm Yellowbelly – Leslie Dam Queensland

NORTHERN TERRITORY

Information provided by Fishing & Outdoor World Darwin

Reportedly the best barra bites of late are coming from Shady Camp. In particular, the first km or so from the boat ramp is producing well with many fish being caught on plastics.

The Club Marine Barra Nationals starts soon on the 3^rd May on the Daly River. There’s been some terrific fishing there lately on the big run in tides. Among the best methods have been trolling shallow diving lures mid-stream. Trolled big plastics such as the 25mm Kokoda Flash Shads have also been doing the damage and the guys at Fishing and Outdoor World in Darwin currently have a full range of these in stock.

Bluewater fishing in the territory has been going off, particularly around Dundee and Herron Island. Get Fishing follower Mitch Peterson fished Dundee at the beginning of the month scoring some good catches of Spanish mackerel and big cobia. Around Darwin there’s been plenty of mackerel and queenies caught. The 6-Mile grounds are holding heaps of bait at present and with them is good numbers of pelagics including big queenies over the 1m mark.

For those preferring to fish the bottom there’s some nice fingermark being caught around Loee Patches, Fish Reef and South Gutter. Darwin local Gabrielle Brady has been getting into the black jew action boating some big fish well over 1m.

Gabrielle Brady – Black Jew from 35m

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Information provided by Tackle HQ Kingsley, Bluewater Tackleworld Myaree, Seasport Tackle Jurien Bay & Bluewater Tackleworld Exmouth

South West:

There have been reports of large schools of salmon between 5-9kg passing along the southern coastline particularly from around Albany and Denmark. Rian Ajemain got into the action from the stones early in the month and sent us this pic of an average size fish on the day.

Rian Ajemain – Albany Salmon

Also getting into the action from the stones this month was Cowan Wise from Albany. Cowan sent us in many photos of his recent captures for our Rapala Photo Of The Month Competition including some bruiser sambos and a monster 50lb blue groper caught on rod and reel. His photo of himself holding the blue groper won him this month’s Get Fishing’s choice prize in our Rapala Fish Of The Month competition. For his efforts Cowan will now be sporting a new Rapala 3-in-1 backpack PLUS Rapala Sportsmans Tackle next time he hits the stones.

Early in the month boat and land based anglers capitalised on large schools of salmon holding around Dunsborough and Bunker Bay but reports since have been of mixed success. Peter Rourke from Busselton said that one day off Bunker Bay there were 10 boats (including theirs) in close proximity all getting in on the action. At one particular time Peter looked around and counted 15 fishos all hooked up at once!

Cowan Wise – 50lb Albany Blue Groper taken on conventional tackle

Metro:

On the salmon front Dawesville has been producing small schools of fish although their occurrence has been spasmodic. Metro anglers are finding the odd fish pop up in small schools along Perth and Rockingham beaches and there’s been a few reports of fish at Rottnest Island, Garden Island and Horseshoe Reef along the Hillarys 3 mile reef system.

The Maylands/Belmont reaches of the Swan have been producing great numbers of black bream with better quality fish being taken on soft plastic and hard body lures. Those using bait are still catching fish albeit generally smaller in size. Anglers in the area have been reminded to keep an eye out for people keeping undersize fish as there have been several reported instances of people fishing from jetties (including the yacht club jetty) keeping undersize black bream in buckets. Also there have been good numbers of tailor in the river with reports of tailor pushing frightened herring up against the shoreline.

Snapper are a hot topic at present with the first of the seasonal swells starting to push good numbers of big fish close to shore. The inshore snapper fishing should remain for the next 6 months or so with the next month or so being prime time to land big fish. If you’re wondering where to fish there has been reports of big fish being caught in Cockburn Sound, Garden Island, local rockwalls, and the 3-Mile reef from Scarborough right through to Mindarie. Michael Robertson has been landing some solid fish up to 23lb from his kayak in Cockburn Sound and Tackle HQ staffer Tyrone Yahiya also got a taste of the action landing a 5kg fish one evening on a 6” Z-Man plastic fishing off Scarborough with Get Fishing’s Robbie Riches.

Michael Robertson with a 23lb Snapper caught in Cockburn Sound

Tackle HQ’S Tyrone Yahiya – 5kg Snapper – Z-Man 6” plastic

There have been reports of large rogue samsonfish popping up in marinas and around inshore snapper grounds. Squid are beginning to show up in small numbers with the arrival of cooler waters.

Mulloway are also a hit at present for beach, river and Cockburn Sound anglers. Fish up to 15kg have reportedly been caught along Perth’s northern beaches while fish have also been caught in Cockburn Sound on baits, plastics and jigs. Mulloway over 15kg have been coming from the Swan River, including an estimated 18-20kg fish caught by Sam Smith around the middle of the month on a fresh squid on his first cast of the night.

Sam Smith – 18-20kg Swan River Mulloway taken mid-month

Jurien:

According to Clay from Seasport Tackle beach fishos have been treated with good numbers of tailor in the evenings and good numbers of yellowfin whiting during the day. Big mulloway are also being caught off the local beaches as well as the town jetty being a hotspot where a 30kg fish was recently caught. The rough seas are likely to be the cause of good numbers of mulloway showing up along the beaches and those wanting to target them should think live or big baits and concentrate their efforts around the bigger tides of the full and new moon.

Blue manna crabs are still getting around in good numbers in the boat harbor and those chasing crays have been bagging out, in actual fact clay from Seasport Tackle pulled 19 crays in one pot just the other day!

Harry Heyes – Rottnest Island Salmon and Lobster combo

Offshore anglers are still getting their share of pelagics including spanish mackerel and a few yellowfin tuna around the 15-20kg mark and one reported 35kg a few weeks ago. Spanish mackerel have been caught around 14 fathoms.

Bottom fishos are still catching good numbers of dhufish with lots of fish around the 10kg mark being caught. The cold fronts of late have also been stirring up the snapper and inshore anglers are starting to report good numbers of big fish.

North West:

This time of year the water is at it’s warmest and the wind is at it’s lowest and according to the guys at Tackle HQ and Bluewater Melville it is now prime time to be targeting GT’s. Sam Colvin, a distributor for Temple Reef, recently fished Ningaloo and reported good numbers of trout and snapper on jigs as well as GT’s fishing topwater.

The situation in Exmouth is wet wet wet. The town has recently experienced extremely high rainfall and is currently isolated due to floodwaters blocking the main road in/out of town. As a result of the high rainfall (up to 200mm in 24hr) the flats are currently very muddy and off the fishing radar, although prior to the rain were fishing well. In fact, the fishing in general was going off up until when the rain hit and Scott from Bluewater Tackle World reported that it was one of the best starts to the year he had ever seen.

For those traveling to Exmouth in the near future, Scott said that the fishing is still going off but you just have to get into the blue water, which begins at about 1km offshore. Black marlin are still being caught in good numbers just outside the reef with fish in the 20-60kg range going off. Also just outside the reef are good numbers of spanish mackerel over 18kg, the odd cobia and wahoo up to 20kg. Pelagics are responding well to deep diving lures such as the Strada Trackers in the 160mm and you can pick these up at Bluewater Tackleworld as they currently have plenty in stock. The mackerel fishing will begin to ramp up now with the arrival of colder weather. There’s also loads of rat mahi mahi around up to 5kg. The best methods for targeting these have been trolling small skirts or skipping gars behind the boat.

Leigh Fleet – Exmouth Cobia

In the marina people have been getting some nice queenies up to 1m on stickbaits and lightly weighted plastics. Mangrove jack up to 50cm are also being caught on half mulies. Local fisho Steve Vitale has been catching some thumper blackspot tuskfish (aka bluebone) on live crabs in the marina fishing heavy gear.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Information provided by Fuzzell’s Fishing Adventures Arno Bay and Fisherman’s Paradise Adelaide

Gulf St Vincent:

Snapper are the cause of much activity around inshore waters at the moment with plenty being caught from ruggers right through to 16kg specimens. There’s no need to travel far for them either, with many good fish being caught just 1-2km from shore. King George Whiting are starting to show up in numbers.

Mulloway of 75cm-1m are currently being caught in Port River, Onkaparinga River and the Western Lakes System. Those getting results are getting them on soft plastics and live trumpeter.

South of Kangaroo Island is still holding bluefin tuna with reports of fish up to 63kg being caught. Keith from Fisherman’s Paradise in Adelaide says that trolled skirts are accounting for most of the fish, with the 7” Black Pete Knuckle Head in purple being one of the favourites.

Spencer Gulf:

Fuzz from Fuzzell’s Fishing Adventures has reported good numbers of King George Whiting and a few rugger to just size snapper being caught along the western gulf, with not many bigger snapper over 60cm getting around.

Plenty of blue swimmer crabs are being caught and should still be good for the next 3-4 weeks.

Boaties fishing off Port Lincoln are still catching Bluefin around 20-30kg about 1-2 hours offshore, however they are starting to move on now.

Reasonable numbers of yellowfin whiting are being caught off the beaches and squid are starting to push right into the gulf with reports of a few huge ones getting around too.

Around the Port Lincoln region shore based anglers are picking up a few salmon in the 3-5kg size bracket. There are reports of garfish being caught as well as the odd snook. If you plan to keep snook they are best eaten fresh with the skin off and also come up quite nice in the smoker if you have one.

Further west of Port Lincoln there has been reports of nice samsonfish and kingfish landed while jigging.

90 Mile Beach:

Beach fishos putting in the hours have been landing some nice fish this month. Reports include good numbers of gummy sharks, a few late season mulloway of various sizes from undersize to 23kg, as well as some big snapper between 6-10kg.

Freshwater:

The Murray River System has provided great Callop fishing with good numbers being reported with spinnerbaits, hard body lures and live shrimp being the bait/lures of choice. There have also been a few reports of large cod on large hard body and spinnerbait lures, nothing unusual about that.

VICTORIA

Information provided by Compleat Angler Bentleigh and Fishing Fever Mordialloc

Coastal:

With the arrival of cooler weather winter species are now being targeted by local anglers. Calamari are starting to fire up in Port Phillip Bay and should be in prime numbers right up until August – September. Those catching calamari at present are using artificial squid jigs such as the 2.5-3.0g Yakamito Chameleon and Gan Crafts new Aussie range of jig. The guys at Compleat Angler have a wide range of the latest squid jigs so if you’re running low on jigs pop in and stock up before the season starts to fire.

Land based fishos have been landing the odd small snapper between 28-40cm and from known vantage points such as Brighton Pier and Sandringham Jetty.

Whiting from 30-35cm have also come from St Leonard’s Pier on pippies during the evening.

Salmon are now beginning to turn up along Victorian surf beaches, Western Port and Port Phillip Bay. There’s no real trick when it comes to targeting salmon, popular methods include casting ganged pilchards, spinning with metal slices and trolling slices or small hard body minnows.

In other news Melbourne anglers have been catching garfish using small baits such as silverfish, Patterson Lakes marina has been producing mid 30’s – 40cm bream, and the flathead season is now coming to an end.

Bluefin and albacore tuna are still being caught between Port McDonald to Port Fairy with trolling being the preferred method for most anglers using Richter and Black Bart skirted lures. The Easter period saw plenty of boats bagging out on quality fish, including Nathan Robinson and Michael Liptac who fished the horseshoe area near Portland landing 10 fish for the day over 90cm on X-Raps and skirts.

Portland tuna were firing over Easter

Freshwater:

The Western District Lakes have been fishing well for trout. Be sure to check up on the current rules and regulations in the Victorian Fishing Guide as this time of year restrictions are in place to protect breeding trout.

The Stevenson and Little rivers have been producing good numbers of trout as Mick from Fishing Fever found out on a recent outing, landing a mixed bag of over 20 rainbows and browns on spinners and sinking hard body lures. If you’re after trout fishing advice be sure to drop in and see Mick. He’ll not only tell you where they’re biting but also show you what lures are doing the trick.

Fishing Fever’s Mick with a Stevenson River Rainbow

Luiben Pfeifer was rewarded handsomely when fishing at Mildura last weekend, where he caught four cod up to 1m while trolling 20cm minnows. Luiben also got onto a bunch of big yellow belly while he was at it.

Luiben Pfeifer – 1m Murray Cod – Mildura

TASMANIA

Information provided by Spot On Fishing Connection Hobart

News on the freshwater scene is that the majority of inland waterways are now closed to fishing until the start of October. Check local regulations for more information.

It has been a terrific month for tuna fishos this month with plenty of bluefin and albacore being caught by boat fishos. Albacore around the shelf are now quieting off but the bluefin are still going off. Currently there’s an abundance of 15-20kg fish, a few 30-35kg fish, and everyday at least one or two jumbos around the 100kg mark being caught. Most are being caught trolling skirts and diving lures. Diving lures doing the damage include Rapala X-Raps and Halco Laser Pros and Halco max in the kingbrown and white redhead colours. The season seems to have been a bit later and the hot bite should continue for another couple of months with the next month expected to be the pick of all months.

In other news there have been a few salmon kicking around as well as a few calamari to those putting in the hours. Not many people have been braving the cold weather to chase abalone and crays. A few striped trumpeter are being caught but the tuna frenzy has kept most occupied away from bottom fishing.

In regards to black bream there’s been plenty caught throughout the Derwent, mostly mid-30’s and a few better fish over 40cm to the fork. Good reports of bream are coming from those spinning the shallows with small minnows and vibes, particularly Cranka vibes and minnows as well as Smith Panish minnows. For the full range of these lures and more drop in and see the guys at Spot On Fishing connection in Hobart.

Adam Neville presenting a nice Tassie Bream caught this month

April Fish Of The Month

Posted on May 1, 2014 by getfishing

Congratulations Cowan Wise for taking out the Get Fishing’s Choice prize in our April Rapala Fish Of The Month Competition.

Cowan caught this massive 50lb Blue Groper off the rocks in Albany WA and has won himself a $150 prize pack consisting of a Rapala 3-in-1 backpack PLUS a Rapala Sportsmans Tackle Belt for his efforts PLUS he will have his photo featured on our homepage for the entire month of May. Cowan is also still eligible to win the People’s Choice prize too.

Our People’s Choice prize top 6 finalists have now been chosen and it’s up to you to decide the winner.

Visit our Rapala Fish Of The Month forum and vote for your favourite by commenting with the number of the photo you like best. Thanks to Rapala, the People’s Choice winner will receive a Rapala Limited Series Lite Tackle Bag valued at roughly $50.

Thanks to all contestants for submitting your photos. There were many fantastic captures this month, some being more impressive than the finalists, but unfortunately many of the photos were iPhone pics of low resolution or out of focus. To be in with a chance your photo really needs to be of good quality.

Inevitably, what we look for in a photo is:

1) Size of the fish (relative to the particular species)
2) The story behind the capture
3) Quality of the photo
4) Effort involved

To view all of this month’s entries click here.

Voting close 11:59pm AWST Sunday 4th May. Don’t forget to submit your pics for the May comp!

For comp rules visit our Disclaimer page.