16 LARGE-SCALE OBSESSION

There is more to the barramundi fishing obsession than getting fish in the net. John Boon provides a mature take on getting it right.

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24 CRUNCH TIME

For SA Snapper FishingIn November 2019, the snapper fishery across most of South Australia was completely shut down for more than three years.Starloaddresses important questionsand provides some answers that may offer valuable lessons for the rest of Australia.

 

32 BACK TO PLASTICS

Soft plastics have now been a significant part of the Australian lure-fishing scene for decades. Jamie Robley talks abouthistoryandtechniques for catching some of our favourite species.

 

39 FISHING TERRITORY

Our mega NT Fishing Section

 

40 MILLION DOLLAR FISH SEASON 5

Who would have thought that, when the Million Dollar Fish tourism campaign started in 2015, it would still be going five years later? AJ reports.

 

46 THE CLAYTON’S RUNOFF

The 2019 Top End Runoff was mostly a non-event.Chris Errity runs through the techniques anglers needed to getmost out of what was on offer.

 

58 FROM BARRA TO BLUE

There are so manyreasons why you should add Seven Spirit Bay Wilderness Lodge to your bucket list. Aj Explains.

 

68 SWB 2019

The NT’s premier women-only fishing competition was another ripper. AJ reports.

 

74 SKINNY WATER SUBMARINES

Long-time NAFA writer Peter Zeroni swaps the deep blue for the shallow water coastal creeks of the NT’s sprawling coastline.

 

83 DARWIN BILLFISH MADNESS

The quality of billfishing in the coastal waters around Darwin is now on a par with some of the best in Australia.AJ’S roundup.

 

88 END FISHING TERRITORY BOX

 

90 LAKE KUNUNARRA’S BARRAMUNDI PHENOMENA

A failed commercial barramundi aquaculture venture and a government stocking program have positioned Lake Kununurra as a big barra impoundment fishery. Dick Pasfield was there for the whole ride.

 

98 DEEP WHITING DELIGHTS

Shane Murton gives you some reasons whygoing offshore is the way to tap into a better class of KG whiting.

 

104 THE FICKLE NATURE OF IMPOUNDMENT BARRA

Greeny looks at the techniques and strategies required for dam-busting successwith Queensland’s impoundment barra.

 

109 ROCKY BARRA BOUNTY

The Rockhampton Barra Bounty is the biggest saltwater barramundi competition in Queensland.John Boon reports.

 

114 FIJI’S FABULOUS NAMOTU ISLAND RESORT

Fiji’sNamotu IslandResort is a sparkling Pacific Ocean jewel, and the perfect backdrop for our regular NAFA Good Gear Model shoot. AJ pictorial feature

 

128 KINGS FROM KIWI STONES

Andy McGovern heads to NZ and chasesone of the most sought-after gamefish on the planet:the magnificent yellow-tailed kingfish.

 

136 IMPROVING YOUR AWAY GAME

Lee Brakesusses out the factors that we should take into account when visiting and fishing a new location.

 

144 THE BASTARDS OF KARRATHA

Karratha, in the Pilbara WA,isa DIY place: you need to tow a good boat there or have some local mates who are happy to look after you. It is also very muchBlue Bastard Central in Oz.Peter Morse reports.

 

152 NIUGINI’S BIG BASS & BIGGER BARRA

AJ gives us a few options forvisiting PNG and tackling big bad black bass and serious metrey barra.

 

159 WTF BARRA CLASSIC

Helen Abdy reports on the Queensland ladieswhojust love their fishing.

 

162 GOOD GEAR

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NAFA ON BOATS

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166 OWNER’S REPORT: EVINRUDE H.O. E-TEC 115 G2

168 EVINRUDE RELEASES NEW G2 ENGINES: 115HP H.O., 140HP & 150HP

170 LOWRANCE’S NEW HOOK REVEAL FISHFINDER/CHARTPLOTTERS

172 THE NEW SIMRAD® HALO20+, HALO20

174 RHINO LININGS® -THE ULTIMATE BOAT PROTECTION

175 BOATING NEWS

177 HONDA MARINE’S DRIVE BY WIRE AND NEW V6 OUTBOARDS

178 QUINTREX’S IMPROVED FISHABOUT PRO179 STACER’S NEW 589 SEA MASTEREND BOATING BOX

 

PRODUCT AWARENESS

 

54 DARWIN’S NEW ARTIFICIAL REEFS

56 DARWIN’S FISHINGAND OUTDOOR WORLD

72 BE CROCWISE AND SAFEWHEN FISHING

82 ROD AND RIFLE TACKLE WORLD KATHERINE–40THBIRTHDAY

96 myCOOLMAN 105L “THE FISHERMAN”COMPETITION

97 myCOOLMAN POWERPACK

110 STUMPJUMPER LURES ...IT’S HARD TO FIX PERFECTION

126 SHIMANO STRADIC FL 4000 XG

134 PLANORUSTRICTORSERIES

150 NATIONAL RECREATIONAL FISHING SURVEY

 

COLUMNS

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12 AJ’s TAKE with Alex Julius

14 FISHING OZ with Steve ‘Starlo’ Starling

22 LESSONS LEARNT with David ‘Greeny’ Green