Table of contents for NAFA 40 in NAFA

Seven Spirit Bay Wilderness Lodge Surrounded by the Cobourg Marine Park Sanctuary, Seven Spirit Bay offers luxury 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 October / November 2021 March / April 2022 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 Arnhem Land Barramundi Lodge is the Northern Territory’s premium…

Did you know there are SEVEN yellow-tailed tagged barra swimming in Top End waters worth a cool million bucks each? And they are worth that amount all-year round? And as long as you were registered for Season 6, the catch could make you a whole lot richer? George Voukolus sure knows. The Darwin-based fisho has reeled in an impressive four prize-tagged barra over the years; two of them winning him $10,000 each in the 2016 and 2017 seasons. The other two were ineligible as they were caught out of season in 2018 and 2021. His top tips for catching red tags: “Watch out for the crocs, keep changing your lure (especially if you’re not having any luck after five or 10 minutes), whack a fizzer or popper on if you…

Whilst the results so far have been exciting, it’s still only early days. The colonisation of the reefs is expected to continue until they become self-supporting ecosystems. To date, most of the fish currently inhabiting the reefs have been attracted from other areas, drawn in by the ultimate purpose-built, fish-friendly habitat. Over time, these fish will reproduce and their young will replenish the surrounding reef areas. By fishing responsibly, you can help the new reefs reach their full potential and continue to be productive into the future. Reaching up to 7m from the bottom, the new reefs are also attracting large numbers of pelagic species, with reports of large schools of trevally and mackerel and even the occasional billfish capture. Techniques such as high-speed trolling, midwater jigging and floating live…

RESULTS: Champion Team: HUMMINBIRD (Grant Edwards, Shaun Clancy, Matthew Bennett, Jeremy Johnson) Second: HAPPY DAYS (Darren Kenny, Ray Goodman, Daryl Melville, Aaron Walker) Third: JUST TROLLIN (Benny Cole, Simon Trelor, Liam Wilson) Fourth: FUSION (Michael Dickinson, Daniel Dickinson, Stewart Odgers) Champion Angler: STEWART ODGERS Runner-up Champion Angler: DAVID GREEN Biggest Barra: SIMON TRELOR 103cm For more reading about the 2021 Barra Nationals, check out Greeny’s column on page 102.…

Power is the lifeblood of travel on the road. Anyone who travels by road, be it a sealed, bitumen highway or a corrugated dirt track, knows the value of power. Not just horsepower, but electrical power. Without electrical power, you have no vehicle, no communication, and limited facilities. The more remote your circumstances, the more essential electrical power becomes. This is why people needing electrical work on their vehicles, whether it be a 4WD, caravan or a camper trailer, should talk to experts… and the more remote your adventure, the greater the need for quality of product and workmanship. If you are planning to drive on outback tracks like the Oodnadatta, Tanami or Gibb River Road, your first call for roadside assistance starts before you begin your journey. It begins…

Spray applied polyurethanes (Tuff Stuff) and polyaspartics are the toughest boat flooring products on the market. Unlike foams, rubber, carpets and woods, a Rhino Linings flooring will protect your boat from rust and corrosion and will not deteriorate — ever. For full details on colours, finishes and more, visit www.autocarent.com.au/rhino-linings-darwin or call Kev and the Rhino Linings Darwin team on 89812277 or 0438560547 3 Presley St Stuart Park nt@autocaregroup.com.au…

-version 3.0 revealed Version 3.0 comes with an integrated bib and the Ghost mould body allows finishes and colours that have never been seen in this type of pelagic lure. The integrated bib is an important design function; when a lure is hit at 60km/hour by a large predatory fish, it can sometimes throw off the tuning of a lure. The new bib design has ensured the lure swims straight, right out of the box, and can take the roughest of punishment and still swim true, time and time again. The lure comes in a standard model and a Pro Series model which is only distinguished by a unique finish. The standard model is brought to life by the LIVEGLO Fluorescent Technology, whilst the Pro Series has the addition of…

TOYOTA ADVENTURES The introduction of the 4WD Toyota in the 1960s changed bush driving forever. Previously, Land Rovers and Willy Jeeps ruled the bush, along with a few WW2 vintage jeeps. I purchased my first 4WD in 1974, a Series 3 Land Rover tray back, which opened unexplored bush tracks for me across the tropics. I avoided Toyotas in those early days because they had teething problems, sorted out over the years by introductions of further models. The Australian Land Rover distributor went broke in the early 1980s and parts for the vehicles doubled in price. By this time, I was living at Jabiru, and our two kids were growing up; thus, the old tray back was replaced by a petrol engine 60 Series Toyota wagon from Bridge Autos. I…

THE MULTI-IQ ADVANTAGE With Minelab’s revolutionary Multi-IQ technology, you’ve got the combined power of multiple detectors in one — all working for you at the same time. Simply turn on and go. Nothing goes undiscovered (silver, gold, or jewelry) and no terrain is off limits — whether it’s park, bush, field or beach. ALL-TERRAIN No matter what you are searching for, VANQUISH has you covered. Simply select one of the four Search Modes — Coin, Relic, Jewelry or Custom — then start swinging. Each mode is pre-programmed and optimised to give you the best performance. You can even save your favourite settings to a custom Search Mode. VANQUISH welcomes tough terrain. It dominates at the beach in wet sand and salt water, outperforming other detectors that can’t compete. 25 discrimination…

Wind forward two years and the Link Micro LTE is the world’s bestselling outdoor camera and is still surprising consumers with its ease of use and value. With a retail of around $350, this camera with a built-in sim will send 100 photos free per month to your phone. It’s really simple: Spy Point build cameras for each area of the world, negotiate with the local carriers and the result is you can put these cameras anywhere with mobile service and they will send you photos for security, hunting or any other purpose you desire. The batteries in the camera last around 3 weeks depending on the amount of action. When the popularity of the camera took off, the smart folks at Spy Point then realised that there are so…

It’s been a tumultuous 18 months across Australia. The recreational fishing industry, both tackle and tourism, has had huge ups and huge downs, depending on location and lockdowns. A year ago, the Australian tackle industry was going gangbusters because, with no international travel allowed, everyone was fishing locally, and interstate where possible. I understand the banks of the Murray River were chockers with campers and boats. Tackle stores were selling out of popular items and ordering in supply entailed long waits. Australian tackle manufacturing and distribution companies were riding the crest of a wave while stocks lasted. It wasn’t only because people couldn’t travel overseas: in dribs and drabs, half a million expats returned to Australia. Wasn’t that a boost for the car industry because nearly every one of them…

With so much experience and global state-of-the-art research and development going into each engine, Honda Marine is able to offer Australia’s only 7-year* domestic outboard warranty and is the only manufacturer in the country to offer a 3-year* commercial warranty on its entire outboard range. With an unrivalled team of R&D professionals re-defining the limits, Honda has been able to produce exclusive innovations such as Honda’s VTEC™ system. VTEC gives you a broader, flatter torque curve and smooth power delivery throughout the engine’s operating range. The result is a superior combination of power, torque and fuel efficiency. VTEC is now available on several high horsepower Honda outboards. It’s the same technology that has powered Honda Formula 1 racing, Marc Marquez in the Honda factory racing team and his domination in…

YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE Planning your next escape? The myCOOLMAN CCP 44L fridge/freezer, The Weekender, is a perfect take along on weekends of fun and adventure. This robust fridge showcases the patented Blue-Gen compressor, which operates on 12/24V and 240V and has DC input at both ends to make it easy to plug into your car. It also includes Bluetooth wireless connectivity and a multi-level compartment with removable storage baskets and head room for taller items. With other features including 3-level battery protection and digital display with Turbo mode for faster cool down, this fridge can be used every day whilst being small enough to allow easy storage when not in use. HIGHLIGHTS OF myCOOLMAN CCP 44L FRIDGE/FREEZER Litre Capacity: 44 L. Can Capacity: 65 (375ml). Temperature Range of -22 C…

The latest Million Dollar Fish season has delivered exceptional results and vindicated the Northern Territory’s reputation as Australia’s premier fishing destination. Independent research shows Season 6 of Million Dollar Fish generated an economic benefit of $11 million to the Top End, and $41.3 million across the Territory. Close to 29,000 people registered for Season 6, and almost 25,000 fishos actively participated in the competition. The analysis shows Million Dollar Fish continues to reel in high numbers of interstate visitors with the competition particularly popular in Queensland, followed by New South Wales. Million Dollar Fish attracted over 20,200 interstate visitor overnight stays to the Territory. The Net Promoter Score (NPS) for Season 6 was 72 per cent, with participation satisfaction coming in at 4.4 out of 5. Almost 70 per cent…

Denied overseas travel, Territorians found the outdoors, and Trent de With, who manages Rod and Rifle Tackleworld at Katherine, has no complaints. Trent’s father Warren owns the store, and last year he told NAFA the pandemic was the “greatest thing that ever happened” for fishing and outdoor stores. “Sales were up month after month, sometimes by as much as 75 per cent,” Warren said. Little has changed. Trent said the store was going gangbusters as Territorians took to the outdoors en masse, and the region was overrun with people. “All the free camps are full, and so are the caravan parks,” Trent said. “We are having a phenomenal year in terms of sales and people. “Many people are coming up wanting to fish for the first time. The Katherine River…

One thing is for certain following the running of the NT Barra Nationals last April/May: the Daly River has been the recipient of a major barra spawning this last Buildup and Wet Season. The river was alive with juvenile barra which fisheries scientists classify as 0+ fish as they are less than one year old. In turn, this means we will be able to follow this strong year class from one year to the next, and watch their growth with delight. For example, in 2024, these fish will all be over 65cm and perhaps bigger than 70cm. In 2026, we can expect a strong year class of 80cm-plus and even 90cm-plus barra. By and large, the 2021 25th Anniversary Barra Nationals was a good one. Competitors needed to catch fish…

Stop in for a cold beer, enjoy a meal, stock up on ice and supplies, or make Corroboree Park Tavern your basecamp, spending a few days fishing and exploring the area. It’s a convenient place to stay, with nearby access to two major river systems, several boat ramps close by and spectacular fishing spots in the region like Shady Camp, Corroboree Billabong and the Adelaide River. The Mary River Wetlands region is most popular during the Runoff between March and April each year, when the Mary River is teeming with the legendary barramundi. STAY, PLAY AND FISH NT- MARY RIVER WETLANDS REGION Huge wide rivers like the Daly and Mary River are prime barra haunts, as are the networks of beautiful waterways and billabongs found in World Heritage-listed Kakadu National…

HOW ACTIVETARGET CAME ABOUT The project behind ActiveTarget was born in 2019. The objective was simple: to build the most-advanced, highest-resolution live-imaging sonar on the market and help anglers catch more fish. HOW THE ACTIVETARGET LIVE SONAR TECHNOLOGY WORKS The way a sonar formulates a picture of what is below your boat is essentially down to the correlation and timing of acoustic waves coming from the transducer, spreading out into the water and returning back to the transducer after bouncing off the various objects in the water, including the lake bottom, submerged trees, rocks, and of course fish. The transducer is that part of the system that converts electrical signals to mechanical vibrations and, in a reciprocal fashion, converts mechanical vibrations into electrical signals. HOW NAVICO DEVELOPED INDUSTRY-LEADING LIVE SONAR…

A fly line is built on a core, and this core is the foundation of the line. It provides the strength and other subtleties of performance – primarily stretch and stiffness. Then a “plastic” coating is applied to the core and this is what we see. There is a profile to that coating known as the taper , and a hundred-foot-long fly line can be a complex series of changes in diameter known as the taper. Modern fly lines and their construction are amazing, and there is a wide range of specialist tapers that are designed to do a job. The plastic coating is where the “tyre meets the road”; it is what we see and it takes a battering from rocks, feet, chemicals, sunlight, and seemingly a hundred other things that can…

Recently introduced to the Australian market, the new Metanium MGL is Shimano’s latest flagship baitcasting reel. It’s a compact, low-profile reel that incorporates a host of Shimano technologies which all combine to deliver unsurpassed performance in the low-profile baitcasting reel stakes. Built around a saltwater-proof, single-piece, magnesium-core solid body, it is designed to provide excellent rigidity and sensitivity while weighing only 180g. Solid brass micro-module gearing, backed up by X-Ship pinion gear support and 10 silent tune anti-rust ball bearings, literally guarantees that this gem of a reel is silky smooth to wind. Shimano has further enhanced this reel’s casting capabilities by upgrading the Magnumlite spool (now third generation) by making it thinner, lighter and better balanced, thus reducing vibration and inertia by a claimed 17%. Combined with the rigid…

The recreational waterfowl hunting season will run from 22 September 2021 to 10 January 2022 on designated hunting reserves with a daily bag limit of 3 magpie geese and 10 ducks per person. If hunters have the express permission of the landholder, they can commence shooting from 16 August 2021 on private property. All waterfowl hunters are required to have a waterfowl hunting permit and a valid firearms licence. A bow and arrow may be used to hunt waterfowl; however, crossbows are not permitted. Hunters in possession of a valid Parks and Wildlife waterfowl permit will be able to hunt on: Parks and Wildlife hunting reserves: Lambells Lagoon Conservation Reserve and Howard Springs Hunting Reserve from 22 September until 23 December and Shoal Bay Coastal Reserve and Harrison Dam Conservation…

Darwin-based Fishing and Outdoor World manager, Ronald Voukolos, said the Territory Government was a “champion” in its response to the pandemic, but there were still ongoing challenges. “People’s behaviour during the pandemic was good. There are places we couldn’t fish like Arnhem Land, Kakadu and the Daly River, but it wasn’t a great Wet in 2020 so, really, we didn’t miss much fishing. We missed the Runoff, then the government rejigged some of the rules and we got access to Darwin Harbour, Shady Camp and Bynoe Harbour,” Ronald said. In southern states, many businesses were forced to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ronald said FOW was fortunate compared with businesses like cafes and restaurants, which were harder hit by the tourism downturn. Outdoors-related businesses were least affected by the…

NT Powersports principal, Scott Macfarlane, said the concept of opening a multi-faceted outdoors/watersports style business in a shopping centre worked well for Darwin, but he wasn’t sure it would work as well in Sydney, or any other capital cities. Darwin based and located in the Coolalinga shopping centre, NT Powersports is easily accessible to the surrounding areas of Palmerston, Humpty Doo, Girraween, Howard Springs, Freds Pass, Virginia, and Bees Creek. NT Powersports is a local, family-owned dealership. Scott says it specialises in selling and servicing number one brands like Sea-Doo, Can-Am ATV and Can-Am SSV, Honda Marine, Seatrail, and CF Moto. “We are also the only Husqvarna Power Tool and Power Equipment dealer in the heart of Darwin’s rural area and have taken on the Evinrude service and maintenance dealership…

As boaters, anglers and watersport enthusiasts, we often make sure we have the latest fishing gear and the latest electronics, but how often do we think about having the latest safety equipment? It is only in times of distress that we consider the very things that could save our lives. The Response range of PFDs by Life Jacket Solutions has several models which are suitable for fishing, boating and broader water sports. However, there is something quite different about this range and the vision of this company when it comes to safety. The team at Life Jacket Solutions recognised growing opportunities to produce safer, more comfortable and more innovative lifejackets with appeal right across Australia and New Zealand. The company has introduced new inflators and new standards to the market…

The purchase goes against the general flow in as much as it comes at a time when many Australian companies seem to be falling into foreign ownership. But Colin and Karen are passionately Australian, and Colin talks with pride about acquiring the iconic business, and of plans for its growth both in Australia and internationally. “My wife and I are extremely proud that we have two quality brands based in Darwin. Our Reidy Lures factory employs six people, and we feel good about the fact that we make most of our lures here at a time when most popular lures are manufactured overseas.” Colin described the July 2020 purchase of Schneider Fishing Lines as a great acquisition, adding that the name Schneider was huge in the industry and would open…

The precision of the application process gets into all cracks and crevices to protect every area of the boat. Protecting your boat from the wear and tear that comes with exposure to water and the elements can be a challenge. With the potential for corrosion and rust high, applying high-quality marine coatings prolongs the life of your boat. PROTECTION FROM RUST, CORROSION AND HEAT In a marine setting, your vessel can easily succumb to the effects of water exposure, as well as prolonged UV exposure. In order to enjoy your boat longer, you’ll need to take measures to ensure it is protected. Rhino Linings marine coatings give you the protection you need to keep your vessel safe from the elements. The precision of the application process gets into all cracks…

Watch high-resolution images of fish movements – tracking them as they swim in and around cover with ActiveTarget™ Live Sonar. Offering three viewing options, ActiveTarget can be set to Forward, Down or Scout mode. Forward and Down views allow anglers to track fish in front of or below the live sonar transducer, and Scout mode delivers an ultra-wide, overhead view of structure and fish activity in front of the transducer – just right for finding bait balls and big schools of fish. ActiveTarget is a perfect complement for Lowrance Active Imaging 3-in-1 sonar, which includes extreme high-resolution SideScan and DownScan Imaging views for finding structure, and the superb target separation of Lowrance CHIRP Sonar. KEY FEATURES Get three views from one transducer: Forward view ahead of your boat, Down view…

SHIMANO SUSTAIN FJ The 2021 Sustain series of spin reels is one of the strongest in the Magnum Lite range. Re-engineered from top to bottom, the new Sustain series features a range of upgrades to improve its finesse and on water performance. This model incorporates a MGL rotor to create a start-up which allows the angler to wind faster and set the hooks quicker. Combining the MGL Rotor with the Hagane body produces a light, yet strong reel that can handle big saltwater battles. It is lighter than its predecessor and the Sustain now features a Long Stroke Spool to provide anglers with improved casting distance. MicroModule II gearing is combined with Shimano’s cold forged Hagane Gear and Silent Drive technologies — for smoother reeling performance. The matte black finish…

REMOTE CENTRAL LOCKING Ascent’s electronic latching comes with the convenience of remote central locking. Via the vehicle’s key fob, all of the canopy’s latches will lock or unlock simultaneously with the vehicle’s doors. Additionally, working seamlessly with the vehicle’s locking system, if the vehicle is unlocked and the doors have not been opened, the Ascent canopy will auto-lock for the peace-of-mind of complete autonomous security. If the vehicle’s keys/remote are lost or the battery goes flat, the Ascent’s manual key override located on the rear door allows access to the tub. A yellow anti-entrapment dial allows the rear door to be locked or unlocked from within the canopy itself. PREMIUM WINDOWS WITH TINTED SAFETY GLASS The design features a double-curved rear door and side windows with frameless, tinted safety glass…

Once in a while, something new in rifle designs grabs the imagination and, while there have been several innovative firearms designs in the last 50 years – red dot, large-capacity magazines, low-drag bullets and more – one thing that stands out is the use of injection moulding for stocks and forefends to replace traditional timber stocks. The .22 Rimfire is the most popular round in the world. It’s the choice for most people as their first gun, and not without reason as bullets are relatively cheap, accurate and deadly on small game. Teaching a kid how to shoot with a .22 is simple, because rifles chambered for the small round don’t kick; thus it’s easy to see why .22 Rimfire rifles have one or more models in their line-up. The…