FISH & BOAT, February 2019- P9 Fishing From previous page If only her and the bank balance would agree, life would be much easier. Sometimes the thought process is ‘big lure, big fish’, but this isn’t always the case. Barramundi are known as the fish of 1000 cast plus some more, and if they are shut down, a big lure can sometimes result in going home and sitting down to a feed of donuts. As the saying goes “elephants eat peanuts”, barra- mundi canbe the same and down-sizing the lure can been ough totempt the fish into The recreational biting. We will be fishing industry honest, both my mate in Mackay is quite and myself were stucklarge with the largest in that one track mind amount of trailer of throwing big lures boats per capita in to crack our metre fish, butto tell the truth, the Queensland. moment we changed our tactics and down-sized gear, our catch rate improved dramati- cally. Not only did the barra numbers rack up but the by- catch was great fun with many flathead, mangrove jacks and finger-mark hitting the decks also an thesed fish alone can bring many hoursof happiness adn There’s nothing like sharing the sunrise with a good barra smiles to the trip. Here’s a list of our top ten picks of lure to bring ons your barramundi adventure: 1. SFT Seahunt 115 (Shallow diving minnow) 2. Rapala X Rap 90 (Shallow diving minnow) 3. Soft Vibes (Various weights) 4. Prawn Imitations (Zerek live srimp, Atomich Plazo, Gulp 3 inch) 5. JackallSquairell 79SP (Diving Minnow) 6. Zerek Tango Shad (Diving minnow) 7. Soft Plastic Paddle Tail 5 inch (ZerkFlatshad,e Castaic Jerky J) 8. Soft Plastic Paddle Tail 7 inch (Kietech fat im- pact swing) 9. Surface lure (Walk the dog type: Zerek Skittish Dog) 10. Swim Baits (Squidgy slick rig, Zreek Live Mullet) This above list is just some of ouravourits thtf e a have worked over the previous seaons.s In saying that the lure market is flooded with op- tions these days and it’s up to the angler what brand they choose to throw, but sticking to the few basic types like vibes, minnows, prawns, swim baits and paddle tails should see you putting a bend in your rod in no time. The recreational fishing industry in Mackay is quite large with the largest amount of trailer boats per cap- ita in Queensland. This being said, there is so much country to explore, and with some time and exploration, the secrets can be unlocked quite quickly. We have many local tackle shops such as Nashy’s Complete Angler and Mackay TackleWorld where the boys are more than happy to share their many, many years of local knowledge and to assist as much as possible. It’s well worth pulling in for a yarn with the boys and getting some local knowledge on the area you plan to fish beforehand. shops is top notch and if you’re anything like me,walking out empty handed is just not possible.Be warned though, the lure range available at theseSo the time has come, the boat is loaded, the new Introducing... area is sussed out, and now it’s time to put it all intomore action. Whether you’re a live baiter or lure fisherman, you will find many snags, deep bends, timber laden banks and flats to fish for those target species. While you’re exploring our magic region, why not soak a few pots and try your hand at snaring a few mud crabs. There is nothing like cracking a cold one in the late afternoon and having a feed of fresh muddies or a fil- let of fish (or both!). For more great info on the Mackay region head over to Facebook or Instagram and check out some of the More room, more features, more stability. bunks, upholsteryand transoms (depending on local catches and information on the below pages - the model). We’ve also added thicker and higher you will not be disappointed: Casting Cowboys Fishing More of everything for a great day on the topsides and raised the deck, for more freeboard. Hooked On Mackay water... all thanks to our revolutionary Apex Hull. Mackay Impoundment Anglers Group With the new Apex Hull you get more of the good Visit Mackay The radical, variable flared bottom sheet extends things – like a softer ride Tight Lines – Brendan Pollard to the bow gunnel as does the wide chine. That and room to move. means more internal space and storage, which Expect nothing less from lets us build new consoles, casting platforms, our new Quintrex Apex Hull. *Size and features comparison made with 2016 Quintrex models. Cairns: Bills Marine | 07 40516733 | billsmarine.com.auAyr: Coral Coast Marine | 07 47831530 | coralcoastmarine.com.au Tully: Cavs Marine & Outdoor | 07 40682222 | cavsmarine.com.au Mackay: Sugar City Marine | 07 49514711 | sugarcitymarine.com.auTownsville: Rising Sun Marine | 07 47754333 | risingsunmarine.com.au