A FISHING trip to Swain Reefs had been on my bucket list for many years and was continually reinforced each time I read a BNB scribe’s epic trip report. As mentioned in last month’s editorial, I got the call up to accompany a select crew put together by Wilson Fishing including Troy (Dicko) Dixon, Clint Fannin, a number of tackle …

THOUGH I had seen plenty of Aquamaster boats over the years at ramps and boat shows, I had not had the pleasure of testing one out, so when Rod from Australian Marine Centre asked the question, I jumped at the opportunity. Not only did a boat test allow me to get out of the office, but we decided to launch …

WHEN it comes to lure fishing, I believe topwater luring is the most exciting. Belting out a lure as far as you can over a shallow bank or the edge of a spotted mackerel school in Moreton Bay and then working it back to the boat as you wait for that explosion of water… it gets the heart pumping and …

IT’S often said in the marine industry there is no substitute for length, and that is certainly the case with Sea Jay’s new 5.38 Avenger Sports model. The Sea Jay Avenger Sports line-up already looked pretty good, with models ranging from 4.25m to 4.88m, but this new 5.38m example has raised the bar again. Not only is it half a …

GOLD Coast boat building company Horizon Boats has hit the mark delivering quality sportfishing boats with the new-for-2018 Northerner range. The Northerner line-up consists of six models ranging in size from 4.15m to 5.4m, giving anglers plenty of choice when deciding on a boat. Already a popular choice for keen fishos, the Northerner has seen a few upgrades for all …

I’M sure plenty of readers, especially those in the trucking industry, are familiar with the Isuzu brand. This name has been synonymous with truck engines for over 100 years, however what you may not be aware of is the brand has also been producing diesel engines for 80 years. This is a pretty good pedigree in the engine-manufacturing game, especially …

AS much as it is awesome fun to run around in flash big new rigs for boat reviews, sometimes it is good to get back into something that would suit a mix of boaters from the first-timer to the hard-core fisho and crabber. In this instance I’m referring to the Stessco Catcher. For many years, the 4.3m Stessco Catcher was …

HAVING owned and fished out of a side console for over 10 years, I have a bit of a soft spot for this style of boat. The reason I feel this way probably relates to how I use the boat, which usually involves fishing two or three-up with a mix of casting and trolling lures or bait fishing, crabbing and …

An additional six rod holders can be found on the targa, which keeps them well out of the way, as well as a few more in each gunwale. As with all Sea Jay boats, the finishing and attention to detail is top-notch and I think the quality of Say Jays and the pride in workmanship is one reason why more …

But with technological advances, two-strokes are not necessarily lighter than modern four-strokes. This is highlighted by the range of portable Yamaha four-strokes, which are becoming increasingly lighter and torquier. When run over the scales, the portable Yamaha 9.9hp four-stroke comes in at about 40kg (add an extra kilogram for the long shaft model), while the 15hp weighs a touch over …