S-Factor

These days there’s no disputing that effective attractants and scents significantly improve your catch rates when using lures. Squidgies new Pro Range with S-Factor is at the cutting edge of this revolution.

Just recently we spent time on the mighty Hawkesbury River targeting the monster blue-nose bream that inhabit the area. We were bouncing little softies down the deep rock walls that flank the river. We tested the new S-Factor scent against the popular Gulp products to see if it cut the angling mustard. We also trialed the new Squidgys range of lures without the application of S-Factor and the results were plainly obvious. We landed cricket scores of bream with the lures that had S-Factor applied to it and very ordinary results on the plastics without. Even the Gulp lures were out-fished by a margin of 5 to 1. Add to this by-catch of mulloway and a massive sea mullet and early indications are the S-Factor scent is light years ahead of the competition. Re-application of S-Factor scent is recommended every 15 casts or so for best results.

The theory behind the S-Factor product is based on a fishes highly advanced sense of taste. After vigorous testing by none other than Dr Ben Diggles it seems our local species respond better to scents that are water soluble than those based around fish oils and pheromones. Research suggests a fish can taste the S-Factor without even having it in its mouth, as long as it’s within close range.

While the science can convince us the S-Factor has it sorted out, it’s the runs on the board that ultimately prove its worth. But if you ask the tournament guru’s if they reckon this stuff works then see how often they apply it to their lures during competition!

What is Australia's No1 sportfish?

Now here's a conundrum - I'll bet if I asked Aussie fishos what they thought was the BEST sportfish in our waters I'd get a pretty mixed response.

I’m sure boys on the east coast and north of the NSW border would say any of the grander billfish they catch off Cairns. Fishos further north in reef country would probably nominate a barrel-sized dogtooth.

I bet the boys in the NT would have a handful of logical selections with the GT figuring highly on the list. The die hard barra anglers would probably have their say as well, tipping in with a wild-caught "metrey". I’m sure some might even select the cobia.

WA fishos would have a few to pick from, seeing as their state is one-third of Australia’s landmass and covers tropical and temperate waters. The species would no doubt be an eclectic mix of what fishos target in their local waters. In the north of WA my guess would be sailfish and in the south, Samson fish.

In SA the boys - in the past - might have said great white sharks, but these days thumping big bluefin tuna out wide or Whyalla’s mind-blowing 40lb reds would be my guess as the fish of choice. If I lived there I would probably select the 40kg plus kings that turn up around Coffin Bay.

In Victoria my guess is your guess. If I had to speculate I think the overwhelming popular choice would be makos or XOS snapper. I’m sure the gummy might rate a mention but is it Australia’s best sportfish? I highly doubt it.

In Tassie, the boys would in all probability say southern bluefin or the hard pulling striped trumpeter.

In my local NSW waters the only choice would be a beakie of some description. There are some decent fish lurking in our backyard but none can truly match the class of the northern species other than our beaked friends. Sorry diehard mulloway anglers!

So I put it back in your court. And the answers can be for a variety of reasons as well. What do you think is our BEST sportfish?

I’ll start. Tally one point up for a GT the size of your front door!