“HEY Ma, the rains are ‘ere”. March is the time of year to get out of your comfort zone, get messy, muddy and dirty and join the mud crab madness. Maybe that’s what Christina Aguilera was talking about when she named that big hit many years ago. Maybe she was really wanting everyone to get dirty and get out to do …
Read More »Day trips allowed to Fraser, Stradbroke and Moreton islands
Tough coronavirus travel restrictions placed on Fraser, Stradbroke and Moreton islands off South East Queensland will be eased today (May 15 at 11:59pm) for day trips, however people cannot go camping there just yet. Fraser Island, North Stradbroke Island and Moreton Island have been off-limits during the coronavirus pandemic to anyone but people who live there or those delivering supplies. …
Read More »Two months fishing Moreton Bay
HERE’S a rundown of my two months fishing Moreton Bay, mainly targeting pelagics and whiting (I did very little reef fishing), with most of the departures from Whyte Island and Manly. The end of December was the beginning of our two months fishing Moreton Bay and the lead-up to the new year got off to a good start, with plenty …
Read More »Using otoliths to estimate fish age
To estimate the age of fish, scientists interpret the growth structures of otoliths and count annual growth bands. Knowing the age of fish helps to assess the status of fish stocks. Using otoliths to estimate age of fish Otoliths (ear bones) help fish orientate themselves and maintain balance, acting like our middle ear. Otoliths are composed of a form of …
Read More »Patience equals one metre and seven centimetres
IF fishing teaches you anything, it’s patience. Patience is a virtue rarely seen in an adult and even more rarely observed in a 10-year-old. Recently, my youngest of three amazing boys achieved what many of us only dream about: his first metre-long barramundi. Having spent many years in the Townsville sport fishing and game fishing clubs, at a time when my …
Read More »Ballina fishing update from Brett Hyde
HELLO all and welcome to this month’s edition of BNB and the Ballina fishing update. Over 600mm of rain was deposited in the Northern Rivers area and plenty found its way into the Richmond River. The discoloured water pushed out to sea for a couple of kilometres during the flood, but it has since cleaned up significantly, which will improve …
Read More »Using vibration lures in estuaries
G’DAY everyone, as we discussed last month, the fishing was fantastic and it still is thanks to the record rainfall in February. In this month’s article I will pass on some tips for using vibration lures. They are both easy to use and of course highly effective. Three main styles of vibe lures include hollow plastic models with a rattling …
Read More »Barra time on western Cape York
IT was a late wet season on western Cape York. Due to the delay in rainfall, the waterways started to flood mid-February, with a hint at barra time on the western Cape. Hopefully the rain we are getting continues, giving our waterways a good flush and the local barramundi population the fresh they need to spawn. With the barramundi season …
Read More »Cape York pilgrimage: a perfect time to prepare
THE dry season is not that far away, and as time goes so quickly, now’s as good a time as any to start preparing for a Cape York pilgrimage. The following is based on the experience of living most of my working life on the Cape, including living and working from a bush camp for 10 years, which was brilliant …
Read More »Funding available to help restock NSW rivers
THE NSW Government is calling on anglers, community groups, councils and others to apply for funding under the Dollar for Dollar Native Fish Stocking program, with applications now open. NSW Department of Primary Industries Senior Fisheries Manager, Cameron Westaway said the Dollar for Dollar funding program complements the NSW Government’s native fish stocking recovery plan, by increasing fish stocking activities. …
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