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Seven Spirit Bay Wilderness Lodge This iconic lodge has been completely refurbished, offering luxury wilderness accommodation in an area teaming with sportfish. Location Seven Spirit Bay Wilderness Lodge is situated on the western side of Port Essington on Cobourg Peninsula in the Garig Gunak Barlu National Park, western Arnhem Land. Sportfishing Seasons March / April 2021 October / November 2021 Fishing Lodge guests have access to a huge expanse of bays, headlands, offshore reefs and islands where Spanish mackerel, giant trevally, golden snapper, coral trout & many other pelagic and tasty reef species abound. Plus the many sandy mangrove creeks and flats offer great barramundi, threadfin salmon and mangrove jack fishing. Arnhem Land Barramundi Lodge Booking Peak Seasons Only Following the complete refurbishment of the iconic Arnhem Land Barramundi Lodge,…

Like most country-raised folk, eventually the yearning to escape the rat race grew too strong to ignore, and moving back to the coast and a more rural setting became a priority if I wanted to save my sanity. How people live near cities still baffles my brain! Relocating south of Adelaide to the seaside town of Victor Harbor some 8 years ago was the reprieve needed to get back in touch with a laidback lifestyle and, equally as important, have easy fishing options on my doorstep. No more peak hour traffic or long drives to sneak a line in to productive waters for this country bumkin. Right on an hour’s drive from Adelaide, and situated on the southern Fleurieu Peninsula, Victor Harbor is perfectly positioned to offer fishos a diverse…

The PowerPack is the perfect accessory to take your myCOOLMAN fridge/freezer out for a BBQ and some backyard cricket, fishing with mates, or camping off the beaten track. The myCOOLMAN PowerPack is Lithium Ion based, allowing it to be recharged more times than other types of batteries. A blue LED display allows the user to clearly and easily identify the remaining battery capacity. Key Features: Magnetically mounted using magnetic mounting pads. Fully charged in 6 hours. 12v/15Ah lithium battery LED display Up to 18 hours run time Portable Rated to IP66* Weighs 1.65kg * IP66 means the unit is totally dust tight. It has full protection against dust and other particulates, including a vacuum seal, tested against continuous airflow. It is also protected against direct high-pressure jets; however, the instructions…

Last year I received an invite to chase Australian bass in Somerset Dam in Queensland. The invite came from good mate Mark Reinbott who has a nice rural block just out of Toowoomba. Mark is a bit of a legend when it comes to bass fishing and is well known for landing many monster-sized bass in Somerset Dam, which is only about an hour’s drive from his property. He is also a tree lopper and his mates call him “the white ant”, which I guess is something to do with his ability to fell trees. Mark’s uncle, Lester Reinbott is also a good friend and he recommended that I should come east and have a crack at these bass with Mark and himself at some stage. Lester is a Lutheran…

For as long as we can remember, Plano tackle boxes have been lauded for their durability and sensible application for purpose. Plano is a giant when it comes to manufacturing plastic tackle storage boxes. This is as it should be considering the company has been in production for more than 60 years. Writing from experience, 30 years is a long time to be using the same tackle box. But it’s not unusual if that tackle box happens to be manufactured by Plano. And here’s the amazing thing: storage trays manufactured today will fit neatly into the slots of that 30-year-old, much weathered tackle box. For as long as we can remember, Plano tackle boxes have been lauded for their durability and sensible application for purpose. And yet the company hasn’t…

There’s no question that the inaugural – and almost certainly one-off – Women’s Barratoga Bash (WBB) achieved what was intended by co-ordinator, Kristen Noble: relaxing and having fun both on and off the water. Palmerston Game Fishing Club decided to hold this event as an alternative to the long-running Secret Women’s Business Barra Challenge which was cancelled in 2020 due to major sponsors pulling out with the uncertainties of Covid-19. Mind you, with 39 teams of three or four female anglers, it wasn’t that much of a lesser event. “I was rapt that it was so well supported, and with more focus on competitors having fun and appreciating we live in the best place in Australia. I’m also ecstatic about the results – over 300 saratoga, barra and tarpon –…

Opened in 1972, Fishing and Outdoor World, which is situated on the corner of Cavenagh and Knuckey Streets, Darwin, has continued to trade through a cyclone, pandemic and strong business competition. In southern States many businesses were forced to close due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Among the least affected businesses were outdoors-related businesses. This was also the case in the Northern Territory. Fishing and Outdoor World (FOW) boss, Ronald Voukolos, says the Covid-19 pandemic that raged across southern States didn’t have a huge impact on business. “Tourist sales were affected, but reduced tourism and Territory restrictions resulted in sales moving in another direction,” he said. “Most affected by the interstate and international travel restrictions were tourism operators, fishing tour operators and hotels and the like. “We were lucky as the…

DRIVE IN, FLY IN, OR BOAT IN! A little over an hour’s drive from Darwin, crab claw Island Resort is a pictures que coastal retreat nestled within Bynoe harbour, which hosts some of the best fishing in the Northern territory. With access to Fog Bay and the arafura sea, Bynoe harbour is calm and abundant with fish, prawns and crabs, making it the perfect place for the experi enced ‘fisho’ as well as the first-timer hoping to make it onto the brag board! The newly reconstructed sealed concrete boat ramp means you can quickly launch your boat and there is plenty of parking for your trailer and car. the ramp is located in close proxi mity to our cabins, making it easy to launch and retrieve your boat as the…

Warren de With owns Rod & Rifle Tackle World at Katherine. Warren’s son Trent manages the store, while Warren says he is working on an exit strategy. As for Covid Warren says the pandemic is the “greatest thing that ever happened” for fishing and outdoor stores. Contrary to early warnings of dire consequences, sales of fishing, shooting and camping products across the Northern Territory, and particularly in Katherine, were well ahead of 2019. “We became so busy it was unbelievable,” Warren said. “Sales were up month after month, sometimes by as much as 75 per cent.” Warren said there was a big, noticeable increase in people going back to the outdoors because they couldn’t travel south or overseas. “People who had never camped or fished before took it on, and…

When it’s time to chase trophy barramundi, it’s time to think Mustad! Mustad offers a diverse range of products that are tested against the biggest barra our country can offer, proving time and time again that having the best gear matters. Mustad Fastach Clip Mustad Fastach clips are strong, easy to use and won’t come undone when you’re connected to the fish of a life time. Built with quality in mind, the Fastach clip is one of the easiest to use and strongest connections a lure fisher can have to their terminal tackle. Mustad manufacture and extrude their own wire on site in Norway to ensure quality is never compromised in these clips. It’s a quality assurance that is hard to find elsewhere.Operation of these clips is incredibly easy. Simply…

The first thing that crossed my mind when I accompanied the NT Fisheries dedicated electrofishing team on a landlocked freshwater stretch of the Finniss River was how handy their boat would be in a Barra Nationals. In just a few hours, the team electrofished, netted and tagged upward of 60 barra. In all the years that this valuable research program has been going, I wondered why it took me so long to check it out properly. I had Christine Mansfield with me and together in my boat we followed the team from snag to snag while they zapped the water. It’s interesting that the boat came from the USA, specially constructed for the purpose. Electrofishing uses direct current electricity flowing between a submerged cathode and anode. I believe the boat…

A MODULAR SYSTEM TO FIT ANY BOAT The RS100 and RS100-B are modular VHF systems that are expandable up to eight handsets (four wired and four wireless) and four external speakers-ideal for use as an on-board intercom on larger boats. The wireless handsets duplicate the radio display and controls on easy-to-read screens viewable under all lighting conditions, even bright sunlight. All primary functions are accessible from the handset with channel scan and favourites, alphanumeric keypad, clear audio, handset station naming and 60-second audio rewind. And with inductive charging (cordless charging), you are only a push of a button away from staying in touch, no matter where you are on the boat! “Our new VHF systems offer our customers even more flexibility and better communications while out on the water,” said…

I caretake on a 2200km² cattle station on the Mitchell River, the traditional boundary of the Cape York Peninsula and the Gulf country. Generally, it’s towards the end of the dry season. But sometimes unforeseen circumstances have me on duty at the height of the wet season. Two years back there was an urgent request asking me to come out and look after the homestead and its animals. Georgia, one of the kids, was terribly ill and was medevacked to Townsville by helicopter with her mother. Mark, her dad and brother Jessie planned to drive out as soon as I got there. The road was closed beyond Chillagoe at the Walsh River. It’s a nightmare for stations and mining personnel alike when it floods. Ferguson Crossing becomes impossible to cross,…

STAY SAFE, TRAVEL DOMESTIC Domestic travel is the way of the future for some time to come, and Australians have been given a great opportunity to explore this wide brown land. At any one time, there are more than 120,000 caravans on Australian roads, according to Caravan Industry Association of Australia (CIA) statistics. Caravan and camper ownership equated to one in every 13 Australian households. Let’s face it, 2020 was a hard year for everyone. But at the time of writing in December, several European countries were going back into lockdown while Australia and New Zealand started discussions about quarantine-free travel corridors. This may not happen any time soon as shared contact tracing will be one of the challenges, and the recent bluetooth update for New Zealand’s COVID Tracer app…

Take your fridge/freezer wherever your adventure takes you – even beyond your 4WD! Keeping your portable fridge powered so your food and drinks remain cold without the need to be hooked up to your vehicle, the lightweight ARB Fridge Freezer Power Pack, weighing in at 1.65kg, features a 15Ah lithium battery for up to 18 hours* runtime. Operation is quick and easy – after conveniently attaching the pack to your fridge via rubberised magnets, connect the power cable to the DC outlet, press the ON/OFF button and you’re good to go! FEATURES 15Ah lithium battery. Integrated high-power rubberised magnets for secure mounting to the fridge. Battery level LED display for easy viewing. Fully charged in 5-6 hours from complete discharge. IP66 waterproof/dustproof rating. SPECIFICATIONS Battery type: lithium ion. Capacity: 15Ah.…

A FEW DAYS AT CALLIDE DAM Callide Dam is located near the central Queensland township of Biloela and is the water supply for the nearby coal-fired power station. As a barramundi fishery, it has been extensively stocked for around 15 years now and, like many dams, it has had a history of floods and fish loss followed by repopulation. In August 2012, when the dam was at an extremely low level due to drought, a cold snap saw the water temperature drop to 12 degrees and every barramundi in the dam went belly up in a disastrous fish kill that took a long while to clean up. When this happened, some of the fish were over 130cm long. Since that time, restocking efforts have seen rapid growth and, despite a…

Six anglers, myself included, set out from Mackay Marina on a glassed-out Thursday afternoon. The crew was a good mix of experienced and keen anglers. Three were keen jiggers and the other three had bottom basher blood coursing through their veins. We had an exciting trip ahead. The plan was to fish our way to Square Reef and back over the next four days. There wasn’t enough breeze to blow out a match and the sea was flatter than Skippy on the M1. We also had more than enough gear thanks to the two youngest/keenest anglers aboard: Curtis Watson and Simon Nash. This pair had packed enough knife jigs to sink a small dory and had a selection of just about every lure known to man. And, as it would…

From Ktima Heathcote NT Major Events Co It’s no secret the Territory is home to some of the best fishing in Australia. What makes it even better is you can catch a barra worth a million bucks thanks to the Million Dollar Fish competition. Season 6 is in full swing, with more than 100 prize-tagged barra released in five incredible Territory fishing regions - Darwin, Kakadu, Arnhem Land, Katherine and Tiwi. If the first three months of the sixmonth competition are anything to go by, the odds of catching the Million Dollar Fish have never been better, with a record-breaking start to the iconic comp seeing three tagged barra caught in the first week. At time of writing, a total of 10 fish have been caught in just 10 weeks…

Corroboree Park Tavern is situated between two of the Top End’s major rivers: the Adelaide River to the west and the Mary River to the east. The Tavern offers a unique opportunity for visitors to enjoy the amazing wetlands on either side. With grassed, shady caravan and camp sites and budget accommodation, the Tavern is a great base from where you can enjoy your Top End adventures. The caravan park has a saltwater pool, laundry facilities, dump point and room for the biggest RV or fifth wheeler. If you love fishing, there are several boat ramps within half an hour’s drive from the Tavern giving fishermen access to Shady Camp, Mary River Lagoon, Hardies Lagoon and the iconic Corroboree Billabong. Many fishing guides call in on their way to fish…

I recently had a sensational trip to the west coast of Bathurst Island fishing with good mate Grant Edwards out of his 7.5m Pathfinder. We arranged to stay at the Tiwi Island Retreat which was offering a Territorian special for locals to travel across in their boats. As luck would have it, the weather forecast was sensational as we left Dinah Beach boat ramp at 6 am and plotted a course to Bathurst Island. The lodge is about 140km by sea from Darwin, so good weather is mandatory when travelling across open seas to this destination. The seas were calm with a slight westerly swell as we headed across to Cape Fourcroy on the south-west tip of Bathurst Island. This is about 110km. Once you pass Cape Fourcroy it is…

It’s hard to keep pace with the increasing popularity of all-female fishing competitions, not only in the NT but certainly Australia-wide. One that has been going along quietly for the last 16 years is the big bluewater female competition held out of Nhulunbuy east Arnhem Land. It’s called the Airnorth Ladies Fishing Classic, and it was great to get an invitation to attend the 2020 event from Nhulunbuy Regional Sports Fishing Club President, Chris Arnold. Basically, I was there to cover the event for NAFA magazine and other media outlets. I have to tell you that it was a real surprise to see just how many female anglers competed. There were 37 teams and 96 competitors, which is quite amazing given how remote Nhulunbuy (aka Gove) is at the other…

The old saying, “On a good day you live on the edge, and on a bad one, you wonder what might have been”, is well applied to kayak fishing. That edge in the Kimberley shifts through the year from when hot humid winds stream onshore across a bath-warm ocean, to when they blow cool and dry off the deserts of the interior. The passage between them is recognised in six seasons in the traditional Yawuru calendar of Broome. Barrgana is from June to August, when the desert winds blow coolest. Locals call it the “cold season”, but it’s hardly cold by southern standards. Daytime temperatures still climb into the high 20s, but at night they drop to the low teens and at last are great for sleeping. Driven by high…

Lure fishing is rich with the romance of history: ancient, medieval and modern. The Pharaohs fished for Nile perch with lures hammered from bronze in sword making forges. Three thousand years later, Polynesians colonizing the South Pacific archipelago trailed lines woven from plant matter behind ocean going platform canoes. In the Oceania duopoly of word, besides a reference to Yellowfin tuna “ahi” also meant fire. The written word on fishing with lures also transcends time. In depictions from hieroglyphics to an internet awash with opinion, no one puts it better than Vic McCristal when describing a lure as “a lie told a fish.” Yet the weight fibs, halftruths and outright perjuries pose more questions than answers. Why is it then that so many alert and cautious creatures have fallen for…

The magnificent Myall Lakes region, on the lower north coast of New South Wales, is one of the most popular camping destinations in the state and draws its fair share of visitors from around Australia and the world. You only have to do a quick online search to find endless photos and plenty of videos or other matter as well. Tranquil, scenic, picturesque and magnificent are some adjectives that instantly come to mind whether viewing images online or visiting the area in real life. Being such an awesome place right on the coast, you’d naturally assume lots of pictures and info about fishing here also comes up on the internet. Oddly enough, that’s not quite the case. Although I’d fished parts of this region in the past, it wasn’t until…

I think a lot of us tend to measure the passage of time, at least in part, by the vehicles we owned or drove during the various stages of our lives. There were the cars we first remember travelling in as little kids, the ones we later learnt to drive in, our very own first sets of wheels, the back seats and sundry panel vans where we found (or at least consummated!) young love, our early work vehicles, first family cars, and so on. It’s hardly surprising that this is the case. After a place to live, a car is typically the second most important (and expensive) possession in our material world. For better or worse, many of us also spend an inordinate amount of time in our vehicles. I…

I come across a few gold prospectors in the bush; mostly amateurs armed with metal detectors, and others panning in streams. Sometimes it’s a fulltime pro who spends a lot of time digging up dirt. Some are successful at finding yellow metal in places that the old-time prospectors overlooked or missed. Modern tools like metal detectors and sluice boxes, pans and more have made it possible to find gold on so-called worked-out goldfields. Up here in the north, the Palmer River Goldfield in 1873 was responsible for the one of the biggest rushes in Australia’s history. It saw the birth of “Cook’s Town” as Cooktown was first called, and several settlements on the field itself. Alas, while Cooktown has endured, the others have vanished into the mist of time. But…

It’s no accident that within the realm of small-bore centrefire rifles, the .223 reigns. Decisions, decisions, decisions… I shoot rabbit, fox and cat, plus an odd shot at a pig. I need something that shoots further and flatter than my .22 rimfire. What rifle do you think I should get? Citing deliberations thus is a bit Dorothy Dix; nevertheless, it’s often asked by hunters in the transition from rimfire to centrefire. At a time when I’d outgrown a pea-rifle, the step-up to the next level of a flatter shooting rifle with longer legs was a short, shortlist; kind of like the choice facing the bride in an arranged marriage, just the single Mister Right. In my case, it was a much consummated .22 Hornet. The latest in a new generation…

ARB LINX UPDATE 1.6 The Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) module for LINX is now available with update 1.6. Combining LINX with the ARB TPMS sensors and the TPMS Comms box, you can now monitor up to nine tyres at a time via the two new visual modules (vehicle and trailer) with the version 1.6 update. The easy-to-read display shows the pressures of all tyres currently in use as well as monitoring tyre temperatures and sensor battery status. The TPMS module will accommodate one vehicle and up to three trailers. Each set of sensors can be programmed with up to four different pre-set modes each with customisable names; this makes it easy when changing between terrains such as highway, gravel, rock and sand. The LINX module even allows an easy…

my coolman YOU CAN WIN THE FISHERMAN 105L WORTH $1,695 NAFA and myCOOLMAN have teamed up to offer one person the chance to win a portable 105L myCOOLMAN fridge/freezer. If you’ve always wanted a state-of-the art fridge/freezer when you go fishing, then look no further. Designed and engineered in Germany to suit the demanding Australian fishing conditions, this portable 105L myCOOLMAN is amazing. Just “like” NAFA and myCOOLMAN on Facebook for a chance to win this fabulous myCOOLMAN prize. 105L — THE FISHERMAN As the largest fridge in the myCOOLMAN range, the Fisherman 105 litre capacity fridge/freezer is a serious cooling machine. It’s perfect for those who like to get away on fishing, camping, caravanning or four-wheel driving trips. Feature packed, this fridge provides the ultimate in cooling and is…

LOCKDOWNS AND SILVER LININGS Elsewhere in this issue of NAFA, I’ve written a retrospective overview of 2020: a year I’m sure most of us will never forget. As significant and impactful as the droughts, fires, floods and fish kills were that I cover in that piece, it’s without a doubt the global Covid-19 pandemic that will truly mark 2020 as a standout year in the world’s history books. This current pandemic has quite literally been a “once-in-a-century” event. The last global disease outbreak of this intensity and magnitude occurred in 1919/20. That Spanish Flu pandemic is thought to have killed significantly more people than the Great War that it came hard on the heels of. The HIV/AIDS epidemic also killed tens of millions worldwide, but it was spread over several…

I’ve done some heli-fishing trips in my time, but the latest one early in the 2020 Runoff would rate as one of the best. This incredible fishing adventure was with the company of the same name, Helifish, which is owned by Nautilus Aviation, and our pilot Bazza was a winner right from the pre-flight briefing. There were five of us on the big Helifish Long Ranger chopper, but there was more than enough room, including for one-piece barra rods up the middle. It was interesting hearing from Bazza that the previous year, even though there was no real wet season and subsequent Runoff, the fishing had been consistently good. I’ve been in the fishing tourism game long enough to know that this is very much testament to the experience, knowledge…

WHILE YOUR EYE IS ON THAT MILLIONDOLLAR FISH, OR THAT BIG ELUSIVE METERY, REMEMBER THAT A CROCODILE WILL SEE YOU BEFORE YOU SEE IT. With the expectation that the Territory will receive higher than usual rainfall as we move into a La Niña year, the associated Runoff could be epic. However, the increased rainfall also means increased risk of saltwater crocodile encounters as they move around more commonly and freely in swollen waterways. Crocodiles can inhabit any body of water in the Top End. Never enter the water unless signed safe to do so. Crocodiles are highly dangerous; they do kill and are opportunistic predators. During the breeding season, which is around October/November through to May, crocodiles are more aggressive. This can pose an even greater danger while you’re trying…

There have been improvements and upgrades to key launching ramps around Darwin and at Shady Camp. Fish aggregating devices (FADs) have been successfully trialled at Fenton Patches and Dundee Beach and are now being utilised by fishos to target pelagics. More recently, there has been a rollout of artificial reef systems installed at Dundee Beach, Lee Point, the Adelaide River mouth and Gutters Central. Artificial reefs and FADs are specifically designed to assist fish productivity in the long term. However, the future of recreational fishing in the Top End does not, and should not, rely solely on government initiatives, fishery plans and compliance. The future of fishing is actually in fishos’ hands. Ultimately, it is our behaviour and how we use the resource that will actually determine its longterm sustainability.…

In recent years, the great fishing available in Leaders Creek has not gone unnoticed by Darwin fishos. Particularly down around the mouth, some monster barra have been caught, and often a hefty black jew joins the party. More recently, two new additions have made Leaders Creek even more attractive: the creation of an artificial reef labyrinth offshore on the way to Cape Hotham, and the sealing of the Gunn Point Road, thus providing quick, all weather access. With Leaders Creek Fishing Base right at the concrete boat ramp, you can park your car and trailer securely, you can take advantage of the handy accommodation, and you can even purchase some basic supplies.…

Planning for the commencement of the 10th year of the Top End Barra Series in 2020 kicked of mid 2019. With the numerous fishing competitions across the Top End, it requires a bit of thought to pick suitable times to sort out weekends while avoiding clashes with other events. Now in its 10th year, TEBS remains as popular as it was at its inception. Traditionally TEBS starts the new year at Shady Camp but in 2020 the decision was made to swap the first round to the Daly River. The reason for the swap was to avoid clashing with the three other comps held on the Daly between April and May. Early March 2020 was chosen for the first event. In the fortnight before the Daly comp, substantial rain had…

With the recent opening of the Katherine Outback Batteries store, there are now four stores in the NT (Coolalinga, Winnellie and Alice Springs) and one in Toowoomba Qld. Outback Batteries has a range of key battery brands and products. As the battery experts, it can offer advice on boating and vehicle power requirements or information on the evolving lithium battery technology. Outback Batteries also supplies Relion Lithium Batteries which offer a safer, more efficient way to meet your energy needs either on land or out on the water. Relion batteries offer 5 times the lifespan at a fraction of the weight of lead acid batteries. For the last 18 months, I’ve been using two Fullriver 120Ah batteries from Outback Batteries in Coolalinga NT. These heavy-duty powerhorses are used just to…

It’s very easy to cast and just a lovely rod to fish with. The range consists of 7 rods from 6 to 12 weights, all at 9 feet, but with an additional 8’6” 14 weight. I have a personal rod stiffness rating just based on feel, nothing else so it’s not a measurable thing; 100 is a rod that won’t bend. So a rod rated at 90 is a very stiff rod, anything in the mid to high 80s is also a pretty fast rod. From 80-85, we have a fast-medium action rod and 75-80 would be a medium-fast rod. The Maverick for me sits in the low 80s, maybe an 83, so it’s not a fast/fast rod, and nor is it a slouch, it’s a fast-medium rod and I…

It’s a wide world out there on the big blue: so much water, so many opportunities, but so little time to explore it all. You kick the outboard in at the regular time before sunrise to head for your favourite shoal or common area. Aren’t you bored? Don’t you want something different? Don’t you want some spice in your life? A conversation about wonky holes always comes up with a common catch phrase: “A wonky what?” There have been times when other anglers thought I was taking the piss. I told them to grab their smart phones out and Google “wonky hole”. It’s just the technological age we live in. Research tools available at our fingertips. No longer does a wager take days or weeks to deliver the results. Doctor…

Like all good urban legends, those about Murray cod meander the full length of the river and grow proportionally in size to that of their subject. Of note is the story of divers returning to the surface too scared to work on weir walls for fear of being eaten or harmed by the giant cod they had seen. Most are related on a friend of a friend basis and are usually believed by their tellers to be true. Of course, the poetic right to change the location to inject local flair and colour into an already fishy yarn is never squandered. I have now heard this story aligned to almost every weir along the Murray River’s course. Most divers will tell you that given the general clarity of the river,…

With no shortage of locations to find treasure, you’re sure to get hooked on detecting. If you are not sure how to get going, Minelab has a complete arsenal for all types of metal detecting. The GO-FIND series metal detectors are a great place to start for getting yourself and the family involved. With digital target identification in the GO-FIND 44 and 66, the GO-FIND takes all the guesswork out of metal detecting, telling you what is below the coil while you detect. Kicking it up a notch with the Minelab MULTI-IQ technology, the VANQUISH detectors are compact and ideal for beach detecting. With dedicated coin, relic, jewelry, and custom detection modes, as well as a waterproof coil, the VANQUISH detectors make it easy to search for lost treasure in…

The X-Bolt is not a new rifle. It dates back to 2008, but the 2019 model has a new matte-black adjustable stock and other features that add to the rifle’s inherit accuracy. The custom-featured, composite max stock offers easy dial-in eye-toscope alignment, an attribute that is more recently finding favour with hunters and target shooters. The stock is manufactured from rigid, thick, but lightweight composite material, which is unlike some thin injection-moulded plastic stocks that lack support and rigidity to keep the barrel and action from moving under recoil from highpowered rounds. The Browning long-range model weighs a little over 3.62kg, just about ideal for a hunting rifle. The length of pull can be adjusted via two spacers that come with the rifle. The flat-bottomed fore end is engineered for…

I remember the first time I visited the Adelaide museum when I was a child. The stuffed animals fascinated me, and I think that was the time in my life when I became interested in taxidermy. My first efforts were basic: I had a collection of small fish preserved in jars of metholated spirits, tanned a couple of rabbit skins using carb soda and kerosene, and dragged home old cat skulls and other not so well preserved animal bits. I remember I found a dolphin skull on the beach and kept it, and dug up an entire sea lion skeleton buried in the sand dunes. Pretty cool stuff for a boy. Today you can’t collect protected species, but for a kid living the wild life on Kangaroo Island back in…