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HI, it’s Craig Tomkinson here. Before we get into my pre-COVID-19 impromptu trip to Fraser Island with the family… how was the late rain season? It turned up like it does most years, when school starts back for first term. We had fantastic soaking rain as well as some very heavy downpours. About 200-400mm has fallen around the area so far. We only …

WITH what can only be described as a long, hot and very wet summer behind us, I am enjoying the cooler weather. Now is the fun time of year we see a crossover in fishing. It’s more noticeable offshore where the summer species hang around and cooler water winter species start to show in greater numbers. We still have to …

NOTHING beats the sound and feel of prawns flicking in the cast net. Update yourself on the Fisheries Queensland legal limits as a boat limit of 20 litres of prawns now applies if two or more people are on board, in addition to individual limits of 10 litres per person. Prawns have been schooling in the deep holes in the …

HI, Craig Tomkinson here. I hope everyone is coping well in these trying times and keeping active while isolating. I thought I’d give our cars, four-wheel-drive, lawn mowers, gear and 60hp Yamaha outboard on my 5m tinnie a good and essential going over. Though only after recovering, because until the last 10 days of school holidays I was working – …

FINDING the perfect lure is an almost impossible task. Most fishers overlook the hooks on their lures even though hooks are the most important aspect of fish catching ability. So what treble hooks should you choose when upgrading lures? With so many options available, it can be somewhat confusing trying to decide, but each has its place in a tackle box. …

THE plan right up until the Sunday afternoon of a long weekend was to head out early on Monday for an offshore saltwater session chasing mackerel. When rolling the weather dice, sometimes things don’t go your way. While loading the boat on Sunday arvo, I did a last-minute weather check, only to find the wind was getting up earlier than …

NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) Fisheries Officers are reminding fishers to ensure they’re following the rules after six fishers were apprehended illegally fishing on a designated dive site on the NSW Central Coast. NSW DPI Acting Director, Fisheries Compliance, Dr Andrew Moriarty, said fisheries officers have recorded a rise in reports of illegal fishing at the Ex HMAS …

WELL we’ve gone from heat and humidity to serious southeasterly wind and showers blasting the Fraser Coast and Hervey Bay, something we really do not need. But rain is a regular occurrence in autumn here, so I’ll just have to suck it up and wait until the wild wind and poor weather pass. On the plus side, tuna numbers have …

RECREATIONAL fisherfolk who come across great waterway scenes or who land superb catches against stunning backgrounds can now make money from doing what they probably would anyway – taking a few photos on their mobile phones. An Australian-designed and developed photography app, PicTrax, has been engineered to create a unique Australia-wide catalogue of great mobile phone shots. Postcard-style waterway locations …

AFTER your day out on the water, wash down your boat with a good-quality boat wash. Don’t forget the anchor well and winch strap/wire and to remove the bung plugs. Useful boat maintenance tips must include washing your trailer and inside the frame and under the mudguards with plenty of fresh water. Don’t forget the brakes (if applicable) and crossmembers. Flush …