12  AJ’S TAKE

14 LOOKING FOR OL’ BLUE NOSE
Starlo admits he’s totally obsessed with big bream, and that he actually has dreams about these fish! In this feature, Steve examines what it is that makes them such a special target, and shares his thoughts on finding and catching exceptionally large members of the bream clan, wherever they may swim.

24 SUB-SURFACE DETONATORS
Hooking Murray cod on surface lures at night is a spooky business, full of thrills and spills. However, there is no more exhilarating method to use on these angry green giants that inhabit the Murray Darling Basin. Rod Mackenzie explains.

30 MAKE MINE A BIG RED
Reef anglers are known to go weak at the knees over red emperor: when colour shows down deep, and a giant red fish starts to appear, Shaun Taylor tell us that it’s a truly magic moment.

36 2013 ROMPIN BILLFISH CHALLENGE
Peter Zeroni reports on Malaysia’s premier fishing tournament where over two days almost 200 sailfish were caught and released in the prolific waters of the South China Sea.

42 LIGHT TACKLE SPINNING FOR LONGTAILS
Jarrod Day describes how longtail tuna might not be a witch’s brew, but the froth and bubble of a feeding school offers anglers toil, and the baitfish trouble.

51 FISHING THE TERRITORY

52 LYNDOCH BANK… NT TROPICAL FISH SOUP!
AJ travels more than 300km north of Darwin to experience the mind-blowing action and variety of species available at this remote dot-point shoal in the middle of the Timor Sea.

64 VERNON’S VORACIOUS PELAGICS
Looking for a year-round sportfishing paradise close to Darwin? The Vernon Islands, just 20 minutes steaming from Gunn Point, may just be the place. Chris Errity explains.

76 DRY SEASON BLUE WATER & BARRA
The 2013 barra season was the worst many anglers could recall since commercial barra fishing was curtailed. However, Rod Mackenzie reports that someone forgot to tell this to the barra at Maningrida.

82 DELIGHTFUL DUNDEE
Many a southern angler’s thoughts turn north with the onset of winter. John Cahill migrates to the Top End for a few days to luxuriate in a fishing paradise.

90 DREDGING
Deep water reefy denizens, so long regarded as beyond the reach of fly fishing, are now legitimate targets, but get ready to hang on writes Peter Morse, especially in the Top End.

104 WELLESLEY ISLANDS - PART 2
In September 2012, Andrew Boughton and Dave Kahler launched their 5.5m boat at Karumba in the Gulf of Carpentaria, and embarked on a 500 nautical mile fishing adventure around the Wellesley Islands. Andrew Boughton reports on the second leg of this incredible adventure.

110 GIANT BLUEFIN TUNA... RETURN TO THE GOOD OLD DAYS
Come on a journey with Australia’s leading international angler, Kim Bain, as she does battle with the Dreamtime fish of her childhood, Canada’s giant bluefin tuna.

116 WET, WILD & RAW - PART 2
In NAFA 25, Al McGlashan treated readers to some spectacular underwater images. Here’s another great selection.

126 RIVER RAMBO
To apply an old adage to fish: it’s not the size of the fish in the fight, but the fight in the fish. And on that score, New Guinea black bass have few peers… if they were any tougher, they’d rust. By Rod Harrison.

136 FROM SCALES TO “SCALES!”
Dorian Mode writes about beach fishing with celebrated concert pianist Simon Tedeschi.

140 LURE HYBRID THEORY
Lee Brake reckons there are endless opportunities to borrow parts from one lure and loan it to another.

144 STRICTLY BALLROOM
Warning. This article may cause readers to squirm.

147 ECO BEACH… FAR AWAY IN TIME
NAFA visits Eco Beach Broome Resort, in Western Australia, for this issue’s Good Gear Model shoot. Pictorial by Alex Julius.

160 GOOD GEAR

BOATING
164 CHOOSING A FISHING BOAT
Warren Steptoe provides some important considerations for choosing the right fishing boat.

172 THE OCEANMASTER 741 VORTEX
The OceanMaster 741 Vortex is an immaculately-finished offshore (and inshore) trailer boat. By Alex Julius.

178 FAST, COMFORTABLE & THRIFTY: GRADY-WHITE’S EXPRESS 360
Warren Steptoe reviews the 36 foot Express from iconic American boat builder Grady-White.  

182 FORMOSA BARRA PRO 5M
The new Formosa Barra Pro is a versatile fishing platform well suited to a broad spectrum of conditions. By Kane Dysart.

186 STICK ‘EM UP… IT’S THE NEW STACER OUTLAW RANGE
Stacer has thrown down the gauntlet to other aluminium boat builders with its exciting new Outlaw range of boats. By Warren Steptoe.

190 BOATING NEWS

194 SHORING UP WITH SURTEES
The Surtees boats were borne from a unique vision of NZ boat builder Neil Surtees, who couldn’t find what he wanted and decided to start making his own more than 15 years ago. By Dave Krantz.

PRODUCT AWARENESS
62 Fishing and Outdoor World - Family Affair
72 Airnorth Celebrates 35 Years
74 Darwin Barra Fishing Tours
88 NT Fisheries - Reef Fish Research
99 Reidy’s Lures - NT’s Premier Lure Manufacturer
124 Spotlight on new Pure Fishing products
176 Navico News