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NEXT year will be Formosa Marine’s 20th year of building one of the toughest ranges of boats in Australia: made with Formosa strength. Formosa is an Australian-owned and operated manufacturer of trailerable, aluminium plate boats based in Tingalpa, Brisbane. The business is still growing strong because of the strength of its company values and of course the strength of its …

INTRODUCING the Gamakatsu Inline Big Bait Circle Straight Eye hooks, which are 4x strong and crafted using Gamakatsu’s state-of-the-art tempering process in temperature-controlled oil baths. These all-new hooks are high-end tournament-friendly circles. They are heavy and versatile, designed to catch all reef species and pretty much any fish that pulls hard. They can be trolled, stitched into fresh bait or …

THE biggest reform in NSW commercial fishing in two decades kicked off recently, with the introduction of new quota and management arrangements. ​NSW Primary Industries deputy director general Dr Geoff Allan said it was ‘day one’ of what will be a new and economically viable commercial fishing industry. “The NSW Government has delivered what was promised last year – less …

SCIBS sales and exhibition manager Dominic O’Brien said exhibitor bookings have been extremely strong, up 20 per cent on the same time last year. “Exhibitors are telling us they are confident of a great summer leading in to 2018 and they are taking additional space,” Mr O’Brien said. “More than 170 boats will be displayed on water, from superyachts to …

MINN Kota has launched revolutionary app technology for trolling motors equipped with i-Pilot and iPilot Link. The free apps allow anglers to navigate and control their trolling motor via their smartphones or other mobile devices by communicating with the trolling motor through Bluetooth. They also allow users to accept software upgrades wherever they have data coverage. Minn Kota product manager …

AUSTRALIA and Vietnam will commence an in-country public information campaign to educate Vietnamese fishers about the consequences of illegally fishing in Australian waters and the Pacific in an effort to combat illegal fishing. The campaign is being run by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority in partnership with the Vietnamese Ministry for Agriculture and Rural Development. Assistant Minister for Agriculture and …

THE Grampians, known to the indigenous population as Gariwerd, is located in western Victoria and spans well over 160,000ha from north to south and east to west. With a range of differing activities and natural sites, a selection of dining options and accommodation, the area is a haven for hikers, families and food lovers alike. The natural beauty of the …

There were two rescues and I was driving for one of them; a boat got overturned on an outgoing tide and another went belly up on the bar on the incoming tide. This new boat is marvellous and combined with the SeaPro engines it is a dream to operate.” In a rescue situation, especially in the chaotic conditions that exist …

WOOLGOOLGA Headland, 26km north of Coffs Harbour, is part of the habitat protection zone of the Solitary Islands Marine Park and is home to animals including snails, barnacles, limpets, oysters, crabs and starfish. NSW DPI’s manager for the Solitary Islands Marine Park Nicole Strehling said fishing and hand collection of fish and shellfish is permitted at Woolgoolga Headland, but must …

AUSTRALIAN bass stocked into dams across NSW throughout 2017 have totalled a record 429,000. NSW Department of Primary Industries Inland Fisheries manager Cameron Westaway said the record number of Australian bass, which were produced at the Port Stephens Fisheries Institute, exceeded the 413,000 produced back in 2013. “This year, DPI has stocked Australian bass into 32 dams throughout the Central West, …