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IN the build-up to winter, the Bundaberg area was experiencing little to no good weather for offshore fishing, and when a weekend finally arose, other commitments prevented me from heading out. But at long last a weekend came along when nothing stood in the way and once Friday night arrived, the boat was packed and the alarms set for the …

A MAJOR sting by the Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol has uncovered unlawful black market fishing activities in Brisbane. A total of 70 charges were laid against four men, two of whom were commercial fishers, with a total of $35,690 in fines handed out. Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said the detection of such significant offences, …

A SUNSHINE Coast company which damaged protected marine plants of cultural significance to the local Indigenous community has been convicted and fined more than $29,000 in the Maroochydore Magistrates’ Court. Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said the detection of the offences and the fines imposed sent a clear message that the wilful damage of marine plant …

JL Audio, an innovator in high-end marine audio solutions, recently announced the launch of a new 2.8” weatherproof, powered marine source unit. The MM50 is a high-performance, single-chassis, powered source unit with outstanding audio performance and advanced audio features, specifically designed for marine applications. An easy-to-read, high-brightness, 2.8” full-colour LCD display with separate day/night lighting and display themes, an intuitive …

THE Sydney International Boat Show presents plenty of activities for the whole family, with entertainment, education, interactive displays and presentations designed to make anyone’s day on the water even better. The show opens on August 2 at Darling Harbour, and over the 5 days promises to deliver the very best of boating to more than 60,000 expected visitors. Apart from …

SUNSHINE Coast boaters and ski riders are the big winners with the opening of the coast’s newest marine dealership, Sunshine Coast Yamaha, at Warana. Offering a strong line-up of new Stessco aluminium boat packages, Yamaha outboards and Yamaha WaveRunners, Sunshine Coast Yamaha has everyone covered, from the casual family boater and ski rider to the hard-core offshore fisher and thrill …

THE Queensland Government will fund two innovative companies to develop high-tech systems for fisheries monitoring of commercial fishing location, effort and catch. Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Minister Mark Furner said Anchor Lab and Fish-e had been awarded funding of $278,300 under the Advance Queensland Small Business Innovation Research program. “The two companies will develop systems that include location tracking, …

MERCURY has announced the addition of multiple new Pro XS outboards – V8 4.6-litre engines in 200hp, 225hp, 250hp and 300hp, along with an all-new V6 3.4-litre 175hp model. These powerful and precise new engines further expand Mercury’s already outstanding offering, representing the next generation of performance. Mercury Marine vice president of global category management John Buelow said, “The unveiling …

EVERY now and then I come across a boat with a fit and finish so fine it’s akin to a luxury car. This was exactly the case when I hit Moreton Bay in the McLay 651 CrossXover Hardtop, which is interesting as this boat is marketed as a hard-core fishing weapon. Leading up to this boat test, McLay’s reputation for …

WINTER has well and truly kicked in, with cold mornings and nippy wind, but it has been a pretty successful cold season so far, with plenty of fish caught inshore, offshore and in fresh water. Offshore anglers who fish light are enjoying good snapper fishing on small drop-offs using 3”-4” soft plastics on light 1/6oz and 1/4oz jig heads, which …