Over the course of the past five or six years, I’ve spent more of my very limited leisure time enjoying hunting pursuits rather than fishing. scope Possibly as fishing no longer provided the challenge required to hold my attention or perhaps because I saw that I could deliver a beneficial service to farmers through pest animal management. Either way, as …

Following a year’s absence from my local fishing hole Lake Wivenhoe, a day off work thanks to a public holiday prompted a day on the water in the boat, mainly to give the neglected vessel a run. Great friend and regular hunting companion Michael Sunner accepted the invitation for an early start to run a few lures around to see …

I’VE written articles about the correct handling of fish destined for release previously, but the message needs to be delivered to each new generation of anglers to ensure best practices are being used. Catch and release is becoming a part of the lives of more anglers every day. This is partly due to the realisation by the general angling public …

My greatest disappointment from the swing to the Greens is that my hopes global warming would bring an end to frosty winters in southern Queensland are dashed… Tropical pelagics Yes, I’m being satirical. Well, if winter won’t leave southern Queensland, then I guess we cryophobes must. (Cryophobia is an abnormal and persistent fear of cold, including cold weather and cold …

One of the species high on the bucket list for estuary and surf anglers of temperate Australia is the enigmatic mulloway. Lure a mulloway Success with this species – as it is for many other less common angling targets – is perseverance. Lure a mulloway Sticking to the task, spending as many hours as necessary and studying the fish’s habits …

Autumn is an interesting time of year for anglers fishing the coastal waters of Queensland and northern NSW. School mackerel tactics Common targets include bream, luderick, tailor, blue salmon and mulloway – depending on your location and inclination. School mackerel tactics A personal favourite – which is also popular with many state-wide – is the sprightly school mackerel. School mackerel …

Being a dedicated freshwater angler, one of my favourite pastimes is chasing the golden perch residing in many of our stocked impoundments. Trolling golden perch Specifically, looking for fish over 2kg. Trolling golden perch The first step in our quest for goldens is to select a location. Trolling golden perch Not all impoundments will suit our needs. As an example, …

Fishing any of the dozens of stocked man-made lakes in the sunshine state without a watercraft of some description can be frustratingly unproductive. Land-based in lakes This has become even more commonplace since the stocking of silver perch in large numbers east of the Great Dividing Range has ceased. Land-based in lakes Silver perch were readily caught from the shore, …

One cloudy Sunday morning during late November saw a small gathering of volunteers huddled around the fish transportation vehicle from Hanwood Fish Hatchery, unloading a very precious cargo. Cod recovery Brisbane That shipment consisted of 5200 tiny Mary River cod fingerlings, destined for release into the upper Brisbane River and its tributaries. Cod recovery Brisbane It is important that we …

Christmas is here again and that means school holidays too. Those of us who’ve had the fishing addiction for years tend to forget hurdles faced during the early days of our angling careers. Many young families will be starting out without a boat or access to champagne locations and premier sportfish. Children are delightfully unspoiled by the biases acquired by …