Champion Jockey Matthew Palmer interviewed by Andy Kancachian
BENOWA BOY
Matthew Palmer is a professional horse racing jockey, with 18 years of Australian and International races under his belt. He relaxes and unwinds by going fishing – all kinds of fishing, inshore and offshore, from Queensland down to NSW, he has fished it all.
“Fishing and boating are a great escape to get away from the pressure and demands of racing. If I’m not racing or riding you can usually find me out on the boat, either out wide, in the Broadwater, or throwing muddy pots in up the Pimpama River”, Matthew explains.
Matthew has owned many boats over the years, starting with a 3.55 Quintrex before he was able to get a licence. Since then, he has had a Quintrex Topender, Stacer, Buccaneer Billfisher, and most recently a 500f Haines Signature. He likes to upgrade each time the hour meters are well into triple digits.
An advocate for local fishing, Matthew says, “It just happens to be one of the cleanest and most easily accessible fishing grounds in the country. It’s not just great fishing but fantastic living to go with it. As for location, a swift 4-5 hours up the M1 and you are on the fringes of the reef, with fantastic river bream and jacks. The Broadwater is an angler’s paradise, and the offshore grounds produce quality all year round.”
APRIL – JUNE FISHING SEASON
“This a great time to head offshore as the water temp comes back down and the snapper and pearl perch really pick up, as well as the king fish along the 50s. There are still a few marlin around spot x if bait is present but the main rush has finished. Not many chase them, but the spanner crabbing is exceptional in 56-66 m of water, or between the 24s and the 36s, where the bottom is sandy and clean,” says Matthew.
He goes on, “I will always start with live baits at 1mile then, depending on currents, usually to the 36 line but, if conditions are favourable, straight to the 50s, either off the pin or south near the traps. Along the way out I will throw spanner crab pots out and leave them soak until it is time to return, hopefully with a feed of fish and crabs.”
Matthew’s advice is to Keep It Simple – bigger is not always better, especially for snapper and pearl perch. “A snelled double hook rig, (5/0 – 7/0) 20-30lb leader onto a swivel with a running snapper sinker clip onto 30lb braid is suggested. This way you can change your bait size easily and, with a snell rig, big bait and small bait is easily adaptable, the same as the sinker clip quick change to adapt to currents. With soft plastics I’ve always had my best fish on big jig heads, 30lb leader and the gulp grub style in either nuclear chicken or pink shine. Spanner crabs are easy, spanner crab pot, fish frame from last trip, long rope, and a BIG float!”
is best strategy is to sail to a mark or GPS position and throw out a chute to slow the drift. “This is the most critical part when you start to sort everything out, have a beer, and get the bait and tackle out. Concentrate on the angle, drift speed, etc while doing this. This will show you the exact way you are going to drift on your area. A parachute or drift sock will allow you to drift at a slower rate and allow for smaller sinkers to get to desired depth. Always keep an eye on the sounder and mark bait. The 10-15 minutes it takes to get organised should save you hours of trying to work out strategies if you pay attention to your drift. This way you can precisely pick and drift the exact lines you wish by pulling up N, or E of the desired marks and hit the point each time.
The 50s is my favourite, N or S. When the weather is not so kind the 36 will still produce, just fish lighter if you can, the closer you fish the lighter LB you use! Trust me, the lighter the rod and leader, the bigger the fish.”
BOAT ADVICE
“When it comes to buying a fishing boat, everyone’s needs are different. I bought the new Haines when the kids came along, and before that I had a side console Quintrex. I like the fibreglass boat on a trailer as it offers protection and safety for the kids and the versatility of being able to be stored in a garage. A reliable engine is a must, so order your new boat with the highest recommended hp on the back. With the amount of gear we take out, plus people, you need that extra horsepower, especially crossing bars. Dual batteries are probably the most critical requirement, and if budget is a consideration, get a new or near new boat with the best motor you can afford, then you can build on what you have. The boat, motor, and trailer are the 3 main components, and the most expensive. Start with a bare shell and work on it over time. Save up, do research, and gradually add to it. I have done this with every boat I’ve owned and, although it can take some time, it is definitely worth it in the long run.
“When you buy fishing tackle, start small. Go see your local tackle shop, and they will happily help you.”
Published in print April-June 2023
