Bass Fishing Down Under

[Colin Linton]

All good Mojo!

We need a tounge in cheek smilie icon!! on here!!  

Fishing available 365 days a year.  None of that Ice and snow stuff where the bass are at here!  We do get snow in the Southern parts of the country.  Something I am not too keen to visit (shivers)  

As for water temps they run between mid 60's to mid-hight 70's.  We are currently in summer here so most of the water temps would be in the mid 70's+ (recent rain would see it drop a little) with the depths of winter (June/July) seeing temps in the mid 60's.  I like the water around the 73 mark or slightly warmer.

I am endeavouring to get the next chapter/installment up as well as pics, just have to finish loading the new products etc up to my website/database..........The not so fun part of owning a online tackle shop  

DJ..........I am guessing Mercury is #1 on the water over there too?  Guess I will keep my Evinrude obsession in the closet then  

Not sure on the Snook, however are the Redfin a member of the perch family?  That may explain some of the similarities.  I will do some research on that one!

Will update soon!!

Regards
Colin

[djkimmel]

A foot in mouth icon would be fairly useful too!!

Actually, I'm personally partial to my ultra dependable Yamaha VMAX HPDI 225HP outboard. But I don't feel the need to belittle anyone elses' motor choice.

[Colin Linton]

DJ,

I believe they all have their good and bad points!  Personally I would use anything if it meant avoiding having to paddle 

Colin

[djkimmel]

Good point. I don't mind a little paddling now and then, but too much of anything... (except fishing! Can you ever have too much fishing?!?)

[Colin Linton]

Back to work......

Tournaments continued:

The structure of tournament fishing in Australia is vastly different to B.A.S.S or FLW.  Due to bag limits we only weigh 2 fish per angler! 

There are a couple of different tournament levels at which you may compete,  The "Pro-Bass" (2 day tournament) "Electric" (6hrs 1 Day) and the soon to be run "Kayak" (run in conjunction with the electric series).

Pro-Bass is our premier tournament series and one that is expanding year by year.  This is where the Skeeters and the Big Guns come out to play!!  The Electric Series is as it's name may imply is a series where all boats may only be powered by electric propulsion only.  This series has seen some dedicated anglers and boat companies engineer some sweet looking rides.  This is a great series for beginner anglers who wish to be captain of their own craft and with Entry fees at only $20.00 it is well supported.  The electric series in it's own right is challenging due to the  restricitons of speed making anglers decide "Do I take the long run to spot X and lose 2hrs fishing time and risk running out of battery power".
This question will be asked less with the invention of motors like the Torqueedo providing ample horse power to get you there quicker!

The kayak series is in it's first year however again it will surely be a hotly contested series with some the countries finest anglers (my opinion) proficient with the paddle/pedal!!  I am pretty sure that this series will be CPR (catch, photo, release.  Length rather than weight decides the outcome)

There is another series of Bass Tournaments run specifically in New South Wales called "NSW Bassin"  which adopt the same rules as the above mentioned Bass Pro events.  The ABT also run 2 other tournament series including the "Bream" (saltwater species) and the "Barramundi" (impoundment based) the latter of which was won by former FLW fisherman Phil Strader.  I will never forget when he pulled out the "LUNKER PUNKER" Topwater bait....lol. I would have been happy to catch a fish the same size!!

So whats constitutes a Lunker Bass in Australian Terms!

The current record weighs in around 8.3lbs however models such as this don't come along every day!  A fish of 6lbs would be considered a prize catch with the average fish around the 2.2lb mark.  Nothing like some of those chunks being caught at Okeechobee last week however nailing a big one on 2lb will test ya!!

To be continued.........


 

[Redbone]

I have noticed kayak fishing has got some momentum in the states also.  They started doing it for Redfish in the south.  And I know my step brother fishes in California for halibut and sharks out of a kayak.
Its a good way for someone to get off the shore to fish.

[Colin Linton]

Hi all,

Appologies for my absence over the last couple of weeks    Been super busy trying to get some stuff organised with the business aswell as a little bit of fishing to boot.  Most of which just hasn't gone to plan    Will endeavour to pick up where I left off in a couple of days......fingers crossed 

Also have 5 pages of new posts to catch up on aswell......Crikey 

Hope that snow is melting for you all!

Regards
Colin

[djkimmel]

What a pile of snow I came home too... Got my workout today anyway. Twice. Shoveled cameraguy's driveway and then my own. Looking forward to your post when you can get to it.

[SethV]

Hi Colin-  I was down under and had a weekend to kill a while back.  I caught this one (Golden Perch) north of Melbourne at Elidon Lake.  Crankbait in 20'  (3.5 meters) of water.

[Colin Linton]

Sorry to hear that DJ!!  That would just make me cranky    You should be here in Australia we are in the middle of summer  sooo hot my eyeballs are sweating!!  It will be your turn soon to enjoy the fishing while we suffer the intolerable mid 60's of winter..... sorry had to put that in 

Seth!!  Thats a cracking Golden Perch (commonly called: Yellow Belly)  I would gladly spend a day catching models like that    Well Done!  They go alright on the Barbie with a few shrimp and a frosty amber beverage ...

Just to keep you all informed I am looking for potential retail sites for a small tackle shop.  Hence the gaps between posting, however I seem to have narrowed down to a few potential sites........so many ideas, locations that I just have to figure out which way to go!!

Till next time I will pray for that Hot ball in the sky to hover a little longer over the north for you!!

Colin

[djkimmel]

That would be nice right about now... though the 2 inches of new snow this morning made for some wicked snowballs!!

[capt charlie's charters]

I like the idea of the SIPS program. That makes a lot of sense.

So what is a typical aussie bass in terms of size - length and weight? What are your keeper limits?

What types of tournaments do you have?

Boats: Do you import bass boats? What is a typical aussie boat?

Thanks for sharing the information - I enjoyed reading and learning!

Hmm do I sense the thought of a fishing trip down under, how bout it T, does your operation have any connection with Aussie Ford that needs to be checked out ? 

[Skulley]

Hey DK.  When is there going to be a winter DK Open in Australia??


BD                       

[MadWags]

In Australia he is known as DJ.

[djkimmel]

HOW DID YOU KNOW?!?

Maybe a down under open when I hit 20,000 members and a few hundred are plucky Aussies!

[Mojo]

In Australia he is known as DJ.

noo  ... once you cross over to the southern hemisphere its    ﻼ∂

And your prop wash spins in the opposite direction ....... 

[djkimmel]

Just don't call me Dingo.

[djkimmel]

I thought maybe the Aussie mob got you (or a dingo)

[Skulley]

Mojo
Outdoorama
Master Angler


I just caught that DK......... GOt two words why I missed the Sunday show................. Kids.  I still hope you got      for ol Mojo .....

That's only one word Mojo.  You owe us another word.   


BD                               

[djkimmel]

Depends on how many kids you have... (I'm guessing)