NAFA #14
Catch up on additional NAFA Magazine Editions in Back Issues
ON THE COVER:
Front Cover: NAFA Good Gear Model, Vanessa Fox, with a golden trevally from Skirmish Point in Arnhemland.
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$19.95 (incl. GST) + $15.00 Postage & Handling
Product Awareness - Fishing
Product Awareness - Boating
Product Awareness - Outdoor
Table of Contents - NAFA Fishing Magazine
22 THE CHANGING FACE OF SPORTFISHING
By Starlo - Steve Starling highlights the innovations that are shaping sportfishing today, and has a look at how tournament developments flow through into everyday angling.
30 EYRE PENINSULA – THE REAL PRIDE OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA
By Shane Murton - A comprehensive guide to the fabulous fishing that abounds in this superb area of South Australia.
36 GREAT SOUTHERN REEFS
By Steve Hunt - Steve explores the deep reef systems of the far west coasts of South Australia, and has a look at the species available, as well as some techniques to winkle them out.
42 THE BOOFHEADS GUIDE TO COD
By Dave Rae - Dave unravels the mystery of catching Murray cod — if he can do it, anyone can! An extremely useful guide for newcomers to the mighty greenfish.
48 WORKED UP ABOUT WENTWORTH
By Steve Cooper - Steve visits the Murray River near Wentworth to do some fishing, and finds himself in cod heaven.
53 OH MY COD
By Rod Mackenzie - Rod MacKenzie has spent years refining his technique, always searching for a bigger Murray cod around the next bend. Given the size of some of the monsters he’s caught, are there even bigger cod lurking in our inland waterways?
58 POP GOES THE WHITING
By Lee Rayner - Changing tactics by using poppers to target estuary whiting can be a real eye-opener, and a lot of fun to boot. Bream are suckers for a well-presented surface lure too, as Lee Rayner explains.
62 STRAIGHT TO THE TOP — SURFACE FLATTIES
By Brett Geddes - Fancy a flathead off the surface? Then follow the master, as Brett Geddes shows us how to fish plastics for surface-feeding flatties.
66 WHITING WONDERS
By Andrew McGovern - Andrew shows how to target the most popular estuary species in the country – the humble whiting.
71 COOKING WITH LYNN BAIN
NAFA’s resident cook shows how to get the best out of campfire cooking.
76 NAFA ON SNAPPER
78 NSW SNAPPER
By Glen Booth - Snapper fanatic Boothy loves nothing more than the rap of an Alvey handle across his knuckles as another big red takes off with the bait. Here he lets us in on the secrets to success when chasing a NSW snapper.
83 VICTORIAN SNAPPER
By Alastair McGlashan - Moving further south, Al McGlashan provides some pointers on bait fishing for the shallow water snapper of Victoria’s Port Phillip Bay.
87 MIGHTY VICTORIAN BLUES
By Lee Rayner - Lee Rayner moved to Victoria and thought he’d miss the bluewater action, but he didn’t allow for the annual run of bluefin tuna that keeps the locals on their toes.
92 COFFS HARBOUR
By Dave Rae - Coffs Harbour is a top spot, whether you’re fishing or holidaying. Local Dave Rae spills the beans on all the fishy attractions to be found in one wonderful part of Australia.
97 SKIPPING TO SUCCESS
By Alastair McGlashan - Sometimes it’s not all about radical new techniques, but rediscovering the effectiveness of old ones. That’s what happened to Al McGlashan when he started to tow a few skip baits around in search of billies — now he’s skipping at every opportunity.
102 LIFE’S A BEACH
By Leann Payne - The simple pleasure of surf fishing is something that is available to all anglers, right around the country. Leann Payne has caught plenty of fish off the beach, and explains the basics of getting into this simple and rewarding form of fishing.
106 NAFA ON QUEENSLAND
106 HEADING NORTH
By Dick Eussen - Cape York is a mecca to southern anglers — that’s no surprise given the variety and quality of fishing available on Australia’s remote tip.
112 AYE KARUMBA!
By Adam White - Karumba has a justified reputation for producing monster barra, but it’s not as simple as turning up and chucking a lure around. You need specialised tactics to regularly catch the big ones, as Adam White explains.
116 WEIPA THREADIES
By Ken Stein - You’d be forgiven for thinking that it’s all about barra in the tropics, but there are plenty of other excellent sportfishing targets. Ken Stein has had a couple of encounters with the mighty threadfin salmon, and it’s left him wanting more.
120 CORAL SEA DREAMING
By Warren Steptoe - If you dream of monstrous fish, then the Coral Sea is where your dreams will come true. Warren Steptoe spent some time out there and was blown away by a fishery that is still developing.
126 GETTING STRETCHED
By Dave Donald - There’s nothing better to get the kinks out of your tackle (and warm up your back and arms) than a session on trevally and queenies. Let’s go fishing for them with Dave Donald.
131 ADVENTURES IN ARNHEMLAND
Vanessa Fox in the NAFA Good Gear Model pictorial. Remote fishing never looked so good.
144 TROLLING FOR BIG BARRA
By John Mondora - He might be a cranky old bastard, but when Mondora talks barra you’d be wise to listen! If you want to target a big fish, then this article is a must-read.
150 GT 101
By Kim Bain - A truly international sportfish, the giant trevally is revered for it’s smashing strikes and take-no-prisoners attitude once hooked. The best way to work your way up to the big ones is to take a quick course with Professor Kim Bain — welcome to GT101.
154 FIRE IN THE HOLE
By Kim Bain - If you fancy tossing enormous poppers at GTs the size of a small car, then the outer islands of Fiji are the place for you.
160 POLE DANCING
By Kim Bain - Skinny water flats fishing is something that is attracting increasing amounts of attention and angler effort here in Australia. Jim Bain gives readers the benefit of her US experience to offer some tips on poling the flats — a silent but deadly technique which will get you onto more fish.
166 NAFA ON FISHING THE TOP END
168 FISHING THE VERNONS
By Chris Errity - A bluewater paradise only a short trip from Darwin? Most people would keep it to themselves, but Chris Errity is happy to share his Vernons experience.
176 TOP END BLUE
By Dick Eussen - Tuna, mackerel, GTs, queenfish, red emperor, golden snapper, jewfish, coral trout and much more. Dick Eussen roams the NT coastline and has a look at some of the incredible bluewater options.
184 ESCAPE TO THE ROCK
By Chris Errity - The Rock in Shoal Bay is possibly the most famous big barra spot within easy reach of suburban Darwin. Chris Errity explains how to get the best out of your Rock expedition, with a comprehensive guide to fishing this local landmark.
190 GROOTE EXPECTATIONS
By Carolyn Forrest - AN exploratory trip to Groote Eylandt revealed a wealth of sportfishing targets, set in a pristine and beautiful wilderness environment.
196 NAFA MEETS NASA
By Nerida Atkins - It was mission accomplished for Nerida Atkins when she got the chance to take a real NASA astronaut out for a fish on the mighty Daly River.
198 SHIMANO AT THE LODGE
By Alex Julius - The temperature was cold but the fishing was hot when Shimano held their annual tackle show at the Arnhemland Barramundi Nature Lodge.
205 BLACK GOLD
By Michael Phelan - Senior Fisheries scientist Michael Phelan explains some of the fascinating jewfish research that is currently taking place in the Northern Territory.
210 NAFA ON 4WD
212 BIG TRIP PREPARATION
By Dick Eussen - Before you head off on that big trip, a little bit of planning goes a long way. Travel in safety and style with Dick Eussen.
218 HISTORY OF TOYOTA
They might be a Japanese car maker, but Toyota are as Aussie as a meat pie with sauce.
220 NEW CRUISER
The amazing new Toyota LandCruiser just set the bar even higher.
224 NAFA ON BOATS
226 TWO STROKES OR FOUR?
By Warren Steptoe - If there’s one topic sure to get you into an argument wherever fishos gather, it’s the relative merits of two-stroke versus four-stroke motors. As Warren Steptoe explains, it’s all about the style of fishing that you favour, and really just a matter of horses for courses.
230 ELECTRIC DREAMS
By Warren Steptoe - An electric motor is becoming an essential accessory for many switched-on modern anglers. Whether you’re looking to sneak up on flighty fish in shallow water, or hold position while dropping plastics over an offshore reef, an electric is the answer. Warren Steptoe provides an invaluable guide to selecting and fitting a suitable electric.
238 A QUESTION OF COOL
By Warren Steptoe - Sick of the expense and weight of lugging an old-fashioned esky full of ice around with you whenever you go fishing? 4WD enthusiasts have been carrying portable refrigeration for years, and it’s high time that boaties came to the party.
244 OCEANMASTER 651 TWISTER
By Alex Julius - After taking delivery of his new Oceanmaster 651 Twister, AJ wasted no time in putting it to the test.
257 FICTION
257 GRUMPY GOES BUSH
By Jackson Baraz
260 FISHING THE BITUMEN RIVER
By Peter G. Hill
264 WIN A DREAM FISHING TRIP
We’re giving away 5 trips, valued at $5000 each, to the multi-award-winning Arnhemland Barramundi Nature Lodge.
266 GOOD GEAR
All the latest tackle.