Digging Deeper – By David Hodge

The super deep diving Halco 80mm Poltergeist is a great lure for bouncing through structure.

I’m a bit of a traditionalist in many ways, and when it comes to my fishing, and at the risk of being left behind in the technology stakes, I still love using my eyes and ears to indicate what and where I should cast next. Picking a small gap up in a drain, or skipping…

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Walking the Walk! – By Luke Galea

A close-up of a sooty in its element.

I’ve just returned from an epic sweet-water trekking mission and I just had to put pen to paper while it is fresh in my mind and whilst I am still on a high. It was one of the most rewarding and amazing trips I have ever had and unlikely one I will not forget any…

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Fishing Knives – By Dick Eussen

Ian Leighton hard at work filleting a barra for lunch.

Everyone has their own idea what a fishing knife should be, and it ranges from proper fillet, boning, hunting and butcher knives. There is no shortage of choice and over the decades I have formed my own idea what a fishing knife is all about, though for most people the choice is a simple filleting…

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Vale Jeff Reid – By Dave Donald

Back in Queensland following the sale of Reidy’s Lures, Jeff scored this lovely salty barra off the beach south of Weipa on one of his favourite lures, a Reidy’s J walker.

The Australian tackle industry has lost one of its lure making icons, the founder of Reidys Lures, Jeff Reid. Aside from his skills as a gifted fisher and cutting-edge lure designer, Jeff was one of a select few who had the drive needed to turn his vision into reality. His perpetually positive outlook manifested via…

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Rekindling Mourilyan Magic! – By Dan Bowater

The author with a spirited 80cm fingermark jigged up on a Gulp soft plastic lure.

Experienced anglers of the far north know that during each year, something of a ‘sweet spot’ occurs for about six weeks in FNQ. From late September to around the end of October, the dry season fizzles out, maximum temperatures increase by a few degrees, and the most revered inshore tropical species feed fiercely. Combine these…

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I see Red! – By Gyula Vari

Gyula with a shallow water red Emperor.

With the explosion of shark numbers increasing in recent years, for most of us targeting reef species, it is becoming more and more difficult to land that fish. Now I don’t know about you, but to me it seems that the sharks have a taste for anything that is red! They must share our tastebuds.…

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Seabed Secrets – By Dan Kaggelis

Some sounders like the Humminbird CoastMaster charts allow for a bottom hardness selection feature.

When most anglers are using their sounders to find fishable offshore ground, they commonly look for signs of changes in the bottom, structure, and even signs of bait and fish. What many don’t often consider is the hardness of bottom they are exploring.   More commonly referred to as bottom hardness or seabed composition, what…

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Exploring The Great Sandy Straits – By Nick Thompson

Driving the big boat, slow and steady wins the race.

Over the June-July holidays I was lucky enough to visit the Great Sandy Strait in all of its glory. The Great Sandy Straits is located on the western side of Fraser Island. There is some great fishing and some of the best views and scenery in the world, not to mention some isolated anchorages. We…

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Longtail ‘The need for speed’ – By Gyula Vari

Tuna with teeth! Small bonito that took an offering intended for a longtail.

It’s that exciting time of the year again when we start to transition from targeting bottom dwellers to pelagic speedsters.   For those of us that target and follow the seasons, we are hanging up the reef rods over the warmer months and readying the game gear.   All along the east coast, as the…

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The Tiny Boat Addiction Grows – By Dave Magner

Can you feel the serenity? There’s nothing the author enjoys more than mucking around in small boats chasing a few fish.

Not that long ago, I was checking out one of the local garage sales when I stumbled across a small plastic dingy for sale. Even though I wasn’t really looking for another boat at the time, I couldn’t help but think of all the relatively untouched waterways such a small craft might open up, so…

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Oven Baked Catfish and Veggies – By Anthony Davies

Lydia kept the baked fish warm in the oven for ages while we were held up at the airport, it was still delicious.

Aussie anglers generally despise catfish. I cover this subject in more detail in this issue’s Featured Fish on page 18, suffice to say I believe this opinion is unjustified. The rest of the planet farms, catches and consumes catfish in huge quantities, indeed in Australia “Freshwater Basa” , a.k.a. farmed Mekong catfish, and “Silver Cobbler”…

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Bite Times – By Dan Kaggelis

Prawn plastics are a good option outside of bite times

If the fish would just bite all the time, fishing would be much easier. You wouldn’t have to worry about tides, time of day or weather. Unfortunately this is not the case and most fish will only feed at certain times. Some anglers, including myself, prefer this as it brings an element of skill to…

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BBQ Crispy Skin Bream – By Anthony Davies

Serve with your preferred sides.

These days covered BBQ grills like the Weber “Q” and Ziegler & Brown’s “Ziggy” are very fashionable and popular. They use less gas and are easier to clean than the flat plate barbies grandad used to cremate his steak, and the covered cooking method produces a more flavorsome result with better-retained moisture. They are also…

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Bare Sand Island – By Chris Errity

The Errity family anchored at bare sand island.

One of my favourite areas to fish is Bare Sand Island, which is situated near Bynoe Harbour and can be accessed from a number of public ramps. The closest ramp in Bynoe Harbour is Six Pack creek, off Barramundi drive and just over an hour’s drive from Darwin. You will need at least 3.5m of…

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Pisces & Pesto Shepherd’s Pie – By Anthony Davies

Serve with salad or stir-fry veggies.

The Flavour for this month is a quick and easy one pan meal that can utilise our less prestigious captures, turning that tricky snapper, trevally or tuna into something tasty. If you’re into Star Signs you’ll know that the symbol for Pisces is two fish. This dish is more interesting if you use a couple…

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A guide to Port Alma – By John Boon

A detailed description of the Port Alma area

I’ve lost count how many messages I have received with anglers chasing advice on fishing Port Alma. I don’t blame anyone for reaching out trying to get any information on fishing this area. Most people are unaware of how big the entire Port Alma system is. It would be almost impossible to come up here…

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When Less is Best – By Adam Finlay

There were some good nannygai located on this spot.

After returning from a week-long trip at the Lodge I’ve pondered at the thought of what I would write for the next article. After looking back over the previous week and what we faced both weather and fishing wise, I thought it was a great opportunity to let some readers in on our thought processes…

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The Fitzroy town tactics – By Joon Boon

Braxy with a nice 70cm Fitzroy barra caught on one of the bommies around the old bridge.

It can be a daunting experience to some. You look out over the water from the main bridges on the mighty Fitzroy River and see a large number of exposed rocks. They look like prop munchers to some while to others they look like opportunity. Locals who have fished the Fitzroy for many years know…

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Beer n’ Pippies Bluey – By Anthony Davies

Top with the pippy sauce, add a squeeze of lemon and serve.

The three main ingredients of this recipe can be found at many North Queensland beaches, blue threadfin salmon or bluey, the tasty little sand clams known as pippies, and of course beer from the local beachside bar. Blue salmon get a bit of a bum rap as eating fish, a bit like tailor further south.…

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