Shades Fishing News

Big news for the organisers of this fantastic tropical Boat Show, Oceanic Insurance Brokers has signed up as Major Sponsor for another year, and rumour has it they are in negotiations for a lot longer.

A great line up of exhibitors will be seen at this year’s Oceanic Whitsunday Boat & Leisure Show 2008. Looking for a new engine for your boat, a great line up ranging from Cummins Engines, Volvo Penta, & Yanmar. Local dealers such as Whitsunday Yamaha, Cannonvale Marine, Whitsunday Home Hardware, Quadrant Marine will also have a great line up of products to show off including a full range of outboards to choose from.

Lightwave Cats, Fountaine Pajot, Seaquest boat sales, Powercat Marine will all be on display, so come and see these quality built vessels. Looking for Marine Electronics, ocean going footwear or even specialised sunnies to get you on the water, all will be at this year’s show. R Marine Whitsunday will have a wide range of their vessels on display, as well as Reef Marine from Mackay with their quality Kevlacats.

Major Door prize this year has been kindly donated by Sunsail, picture yourself and a friend on a 3 night fully crewed charter from Sunsail.

Scott Hillier from Creek to Coast will come and show the kids some exciting fishing techniques including how to throw a cast net.

Don’t forget to have a look at the Art Show which will be set up in the new position right in the boat show area, you may even find that special piece you have been waiting for. The Art show is open to all ages and entry forms can be found on the web site www.whitsundayboatshow.com and follow the link to the Art Show. $12000.00 prize money has been donated by the Sudholz Construction Group and the Rotary Club of Airlie Beach our Art Show sponsors.

Only a couple of booths are still available so for more information, or details on how to exhibit, please contact Dalwyn McErlane on 0408461192

Airlie Beach – What a great place for a Boat Show.
Saturday June 7, 9.00am – 5.00pm
Sunday June 8 9.00am – 4.00pm

Source : Power Boat World

Lowrance has raised the bar in fish-finding technology with its next-generation sonar ‘optimiser’.

Based on the high-speed Lowrance Ethernet network, the new Broadband Sounder-1 delivers peerless echo clarity and the highest underwater definition ever achieved – in both freshwater and saltwater, from shallow water through to extreme sea depths.

The module automatically produces digitally purified marking and separation of fish, structure, thermoclines and bottom, with remarkable elimination of surface and turbulent water clutter to mark targets. For fishing enthusiasts, the result is outstanding clarity when it comes to locating and tracking the next catch.

Featuring an advanced plug-and-play Ethernet module, the Broadband Sounder-1 combines superior Lowrance software-driven technology and high-speed signal processing.

The module is compatible with all Lowrance 2007 models with 12.7cm and larger colour displays, along with the five-pin yellow Ethernet connector. That includes all LCX and LMS models, as well as displaying sonar graphs on GlobalMap® chartplotters networked with a sonar-enabled head unit.

The Broadband Sounder-1 also works with all compatible Lowrance transducers – Skimmer®, pod, shoot-or bolt-thru hull – and accommodates all transducer-frequency ranges: 50kHz, 83kHz and 200kHz.

The enhanced digital module also features a nominal output power of 250-watts peak-to-peak (31 watts RMS), with an analogue output power equivalent of 30,000 watts peak-to-peak (3750 watts RMS).

The Broadband Sounder-1 offers direct connectivity between a transducer and a single sonar-equipped Lowrance head unit, as well as connectivity between a transducer and multiple Lowrance head units using the new, optional Navico Expansion Port-1.

The plug-and-play Navico Expansion Port-1 network switch allows optimised sonar sharing for up to four compatible Lowrance display devices on the Lowrance Ethernet network, including 2007 GlobalMap chartplotters, when employed with the Broadband Sounder-1. It also allows linkage to other Expansion Port-1 modules for future onboard network expansion.

Both the Broadband Sounder-1 and Navico Expansion Port-1 feature ports that resist corrosive marine environments and come with a full two-year warranty.

Broadband Sounder-1 – RRP $999, Expansion Port – RRP $299.

Kayak Fishing Adventures by ‘Paffoh‘, is a great blog read, it contains a lot of good reports on kayak fishing (I personally have a bass kayak, that works a treat in the creeks and low rivers in the North East of Victoria).

Here’s the latest post on a fishing trip on Lake Burley Griffin, in Canberra. Nicely written, I’m definitely coming back to read more! Great stuff Paffoh, keep it coming! Adding you to the blogroll so that others may find this ..

Here the author is with a good size Redfin :

On the subject of Kayaks, you may also want to check out a great discussion site, the Australian Kayak Fishing Forum

For the fifth straight year, Mercury is once again a major sponsor of the Australian Fishing Championship (AFC) which is just getting underway in top fishing spots around the nation.

Reflecting this year’s improved format, Team Mercury boasts three great fishermen -
Matthew Mott (Bass) and Darren “Dizzy” Borg (Bream), who were both in the AFC last year, and 18-year-old newbie Kerrin Taylor (Barra).

To give them an additional edge, Mercury has powered the team boat – a Stratos Bass Boat – with a new generation 150hp Verado supercharged FourStroke which was air freighted from the US to ensure it arrived in time for round one.

“Getting to the best fishing spots first can make all the difference in the AFC, and we’re confident the new Verado is going to give our guys the jump on the competition,” said Ken Evans, Mercury’s Product Director, Outboards.
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The new generation Verados - from 135hp to 300hp - represent a giant step forward in outboard performance, delivering better power, higher top speeds, and greater fuel efficiency. They also have the lowest noise/vibration/harshness result in the industry.

Team Mercury is once again also using a MotorGuide Tour Series trolling motor, which will thrive under the harsh conditions of competitive fishing.

This year the competition is divided into six rounds – two Bream, two Bass and two Barra – and the coverage is going to be better than ever with the use of helicopters and underwater shots to deliver every nuance.

Once again the AFC will air on Channel 10 in metro areas and Southern Cross regionally, beginning on October 27 and reaching its climax on December 1.

Source:  http://www.mercurymarine.com.au