Shades Fishing News

Fishermen - the 2008 marron season will commence two weeks later than last season and a license will be required to catch the freshwater delicacy.

Each season’s start date relates to the moon phase providing the best opportunity to catch a marron.

Next year it runs from noon Friday, January 25, to noon on Sunday, February 17.

As was the case last season, there will be 23 days for recreational fishers to pursue the popular pastime of catching the world’s largest freshwater crayfish in the South West of WA, in the Moore River near Guilderton, and the Hutt River in the State’s Mid West.

A new brochure for the 2008 marron season is now available from Department of Fisheries offices or can be downloaded from the website, www.fish.wa.gov.au. It outlines the dates for the season, describes the legal fishing gear for catching marron, how to measure them properly and where you can and can’t go fish for marron, as well as other rules and limits that apply.

Compliance Manager for the Southern Region Peter Godfrey said until the marron season officially gets underway government officers will be on the look out for early birds seeking to illegally get the worm.

“In recent years, there have been several prosecutions of marron fishers, who were caught fishing out of season, so we play close attention to this possibility,” Mr Godfrey said. “The rules for wild-catch marron fishing are required to keep natural stocks sustainable, so the opportunity to go fishing for the popular species is still there in the future.”

Mr Godfrey said that in the lead up to the 2008 marron season, department education officers would hold a number of information sessions for people interested in going marron fishing.

“These sessions are conducted in collaboration with Department of Environment and Conservation Officers and are highly valuable for anyone who enjoys the fun of fishing for marron along our South West rivers or at the accessible public dams,” he said.

GIOVANNI TORRE

Source: TheWest.com.au

How good is the fishing on the Sapphire Coast at the moment?

Again we are able to start this week’s column with a beauty.

Shelly Taylor of Tathra caught a 20kg Mako Shark on a handline rigged up for flathead fishing.

Shelly said when the Mako took off it was hard to handle, then the Mako tail wrapped itself around her fishing mate, Rodney Pollard’s, fishing line.

Shelly said it was tough going, but she bought the shark back to the boat and was very happy.

Outside fishing at Tathra and north and south of the township is producing good results, with sand flathead, some big tiger flathead, leatherjackets, mowies, and the odd snapper still on the bite.

Offshore fishing is producing albacore, yellowfin, and sharks and it won’t be to long before the marlin are about.

Beach fishing has been a bit on the quiet side lately, with only a few reports of the odd salmon being caught, but this will improve when we get the bigger tides this month.

Estuary fishing is still great with anglers having a ball chasing flathead, bream, whiting, tailor, and trevally.

This weekend on the Bega and Pambula Rivers and Merimbula Lake is the Tri-Estuary Challenge put on by MBGALAC this is a great event where a digital photo, with the fish measurement is all that is required and the fish is released back into the water.

See the Merimbula News Weekly for details.

Until next week, keep those lines wet

Sidbo

Source : Bega Yourguide

A ban on crab fishing in Cockburn Sound has been extended for another year to allow stocks to rebuild, Fisheries Minister Jon Ford announced today.

“Research advice indicates that although blue swimmer crab stocks have started to recover in the Sound, breeding stocks and recruitment remain at low levels,” Mr Ford said.

He said researchers would keep monitoring the recovery of crab stocks in Cockburn Sound and and further scientific data and advice would be reviewed late next year to evaluate whether crab fishing could re-start.

“Now that we’ve started down the road to recovery and the signs indicate we are heading in the right direction, we should give the crabs in Cockburn Sound a little longer to rebuild their numbers,” he said.

“If we keep the fishing pressure off the crab stocks in the meantime, this will help speed up the recovery.

“Once the blue swimmer crab numbers return to reasonable levels, our goal is to keep the stocks sustainable through careful ongoing management strategies.”

The Minister said his decision to reduce the bag and boat limits for blue swimmer crabs across the rest of the West Coast Bioregion (extending from Black Point, east of Augusta, to the Zuytdorp Cliffs, north of Kalbarri) was also an important step for sustainability.

“As of November 1 this year, the daily bag limit of blue swimmer crabs in the West Coast Bioregion for recreational fishers has been reduced to 10 per fisher and the boat limit is now 20,” Mr Ford said.

More details about the new rules for blue swimmer crab fishing in the West Coast Bioregion are available from the Department of Fisheries website http://www.fish.wa.gov.au

PETA RULE

Source : TheWest.com.au

POWERFUL new interactive computer software is being employed in the ongoing battle against the noxious european carp.
The software, being developed by the Federal Co-operative Research Centre for Invasive Animals and by Victorian Fisheries, will allow researchers and environmental and fisheries managers to evaluate the effectiveness of proposed control strategies for the common carp.

The so-called “rabbit of the waterways” now makes up to a staggering 80 to 90 per cent of fish in some areas of the Murray-Darling Basin.

Control of exotic fish, including carp, has been included as an important aspect of the Murray-Darling Basin Commission’s Native Fish Strategy.

The strategy aims to recover the basin’s native fish stocks from its present 10 per cent to 60 per cent of pre-European settlement values within 50 years.

The demise of some of these populations has affected recreational fisheries for desirable native species such as Murray cod and golden perch or yellowbelly.

Effort is now being directed through the Invasive Animals CRC freshwater products and strategies program to develop tactics that can be used to control and reduce carp numbers in Australian waterways.

CARPSIM is designed to simulate the likely outcomes of these strategies. Management activities presently being considered for control include:

• Size-selective removal (fishing with nets, traps and cages).

• Non-size selective removal (angling, poisoning).

• Spawning sabotage (failure through habitat or behavioural manipulation).

• Sex-selective removal (removal of males or females through pheromone-mediated behavioural manipulation).

• Daughterless carp (technology being developed by the CSIRO to create carp populations that are almost entirely male, causing population decline).

The effectiveness of using combinations of control strategies (such as the use of chemical attractants to concentrate carp in an area and then trapping them) is also being evaluated.

The functionality built into CARPSIM allows researchers and managers to “program” CARPSIM to simulate the application of any of these management activities at virtually any intensity and in any combination.

Rock cod tag record

THE longest time at liberty after being tagged has been recorded for a goldspotted rock cod.

The 33cm fish was tagged by Kelvin McArthur in Deluge Inlet on November 12, 1996.

It was out for 4012 days and grew 51cm before being recaptured 60km north along the coast at Dunk Island by Tracey Tietzel on November 7 this year. The cod was not released.

The tag was only found while the fish was being filleted as it was completely overgrown and embedded in the flesh.

Renew permit and win

QUEENSLAND anglers can go into a draw to win $500 worth of fishing gear simply by renewing their next stocked impoundment permit online before March 30, 2008.

Primary Industries and Fisheries Department recreational fishing manager Peter Kind says the SIP scheme requires anglers who fish in certain Queensland impoundments or dams to buy a permit before wetting a line.

“Impoundments are ‘put and take’ fisheries where most stocked species will not reproduce,” Kind says.

“This means the impoundments need to be stocked regularly.

“I’m encouraging all anglers to visit www.dpi.qld.gov.au/fishweb to renew their SIP and they could be the winner of our $500 prize.

“Money raised by the SIP scheme is used to buy native fish fingerlings for stocking 30 impoundments throughout Queensland to enhance the local recreational fishery.

“Anglers planning to fish in one of the registered impoundments are required to buy a SIP and carry it with them at all times when fishing.

“If anglers are not in possession of a permit, they may be fined.”

Yearly permits cost $35. There is a 10 per cent discount for holders of particular concession cards.

A weekly permit costs $7.

Further information on nomination requirements and forms from DPI&F on 13 25 23 or visit the Fishweb site www.dpi.qld.gov.au/fishweborrg@qnp.newsltd.com.au or 3666 6274.

Source: Courier Mail

The Merimbula Big Game And Lakes Angling Club proudly presents the Merimbula Tackleworld Tri- Estuary Challenge held this weekend November 24 to 25, 2007.

Over $1000 cash is to be won along with great fishing combo’s and various other prizes. Anglers can fish all areas of the Merimbula Lake, Pambula Lake and Bega River Estuaries under tidal influence upstream of their respective coastal bar. An entry fee has been set at $100 per team consisting of two anglers per boat and additional senior anglers are $50 and juniors under 16 years of age will be $30. All entry fees are to be paid prior to the Friday night briefing held at the Spencer Park Clubhouse November, 23, from 7.30 pm.

Entry fee entitles all competitors to a free barbecue at the Friday night briefing and barbecue at the presentation on Sunday afternoon.

A fantastic fishing tackle prize is also up for grabs as a lucky door prize for all entered anglers and this alone is worth the cost of the registration fee.

Fishing will commence on both days at 6am and must cease at 3pm. All fish must be caught via rod and real and within NSW fishing regulations. No fish caught outside these times will be eligible for prizes and any decision made by the tournament committee will be final.

Major cash prizes will be awarded for the following categories.

Longest Bream $500. Longest Dusky Flathead $300. Longest Tailor $150. Longest Trevally $150. In the unlikely event that there are less than 15 teams in the event, the prize money will be adjusted down on a pro-rata basis. If over 40 teams enter, the cash prizes will be DOUBLED. Prizes are based on the length of the fish measured on a measuring board supplied to competitors by the club and although the club supports measure and release it is the anglers choice wether to release or kill. For more information ring Dave Stewart-0403198997 or Michael Hampson-0400223742 or better yet come along to the briefing and registration this Friday, 7.30 pm at the Spencer Park Clubhouse. May your reel scream, Mex.

Narooma Sport and Game Fishing Club: Happenings and events

DURING the school holidays we conducted a junior fishing clinic, children from Narooma Public School attended and learnt some basics of our sport.

On November 17/18 we hosted children from Canteen to many activites, including input from some of our sponsors for accommodation, tours and entertainment,

The club assisted 15 girls and 1 boy to enjoy the hospitality of the Narooma Area, as we hosted CanTeen children to forget for a while the health troubles they have and/or are associated with.

With aid of Easts Van Park, Darryl’s Narooma Charters, Linda’s Sweets and Treats, Fishing Punts and donations from locals and a lot of hard work by Club members, a lot of Happy teen age children enjoyed an all too short stay. Teens from the mountains, from ACT from the Gong and many other places, all saw, experienced, tried, watched, slept and ate their way through nearly 48 action filled hours, all thanks to Narooma citizens and our NSGFC members who gave their all.

Then on November 24/25 the younger children of Camp Quality will follow the same format.

Throughout January we are repeating our Bluewater Classic, a full month of recording best catches wide of the Narooma area.

Presentation afternoon is Friday evening, February 1.

February sees the NSGFC annual convention, the highlight of our fishing year, where visitors from many affliliated clubs fish our beaches, estuary, rocks and bluewater over dates February 29 and March 1 and 2 culminating in a presentation on the Sunday afternoon.

Our aims are to continue assisting our members and the community in the enjoyment of fishing and the social interaction evolving in the enjoyable atmosphere of our clubrooms, Riverside Drive, Narooma.

Dennis Allnutt, Secretary NSGFC

Source: Narooma YourGuide 

WOMEN anglers will pit their skills against Dartmouth’s wily brown and rainbow trout on November 23 and 24.

The Dartmouth Women’s Fishing Classic carries more than $5000 in prizes.

A catch and release tournament, the event is restricted to women anglers, although under tournament rules, men can participate as skippers of boats and guides.

And the men won’t miss out in the prize stakes — a Minn Kota trolling motor is the prize in a major draw for skippers.

Club president Robyn Scales said competitors could fish on their own, in a team of two, or as a club with a team of four.

Mrs Scales said there would be a prize each day for the best brown and the best rainbow.

Competitors had to photograph each fish caught before releasing it.

The weekend would also involve a “fashions on the fishing fields” competition and country music entertainment.

Registration can be made through www.dartmouth.net.au or by phoning Ann Shipcott on (02) 6072 4364 or Mrs Scales on (02) 6072 4233.

Source : The Border Mail

Recreational anglers are anxiously awaiting details of planned new exclusions zones on the Gold Coast Broadwater and to the north on Moreton Bay.

A draft map is expected to be made available by year’s end showing where recreational anglers can and can’t enjoy their sport.

The proposed exclusion zones being considered could also leave anglers open to a duplication of legislation meaning two State Government agencies, the Fisheries Act and the Environmental Protection Agency could impose fines for the identical offence.

David Bateman, of Sunfish Queensland, said many prime fishing spots along the named areas were already classified as habitat reserves under the Fisheries Act.

He said adoption of new ‘green zones’ would leave anglers open to fines from both the Fisheries Act and the EPA.

Most local concern centres on the possibility of extending the Coombabah Lake fish sanctuary and declare part of South Stradbroke Island ‘off limits.’

According to Mr Bateman, preventing fishing will achieve nothing. ‘If the intention is to protect the biodiversity they have to protect the habitat,’ he declared. ‘Most habitat destruction is coming off the land because of development and pollution, not from recreational anglers.

‘What’s needed here is a commonsense solution, not simply restrictions on recreational anglers who are already bound by rules on size and bag limits.’

State Government Sustainability Minister Andrew McNamara denied the proposal would result in anglers being ‘locked out.’ ‘Professional and recreational fishers and boaters will certainly not be excluded from the bay by this process,’ he said.

‘The aim of this review is to regulate the sustainable use of the marine park for now and for future generations.’
He said an independent scientific panel had recommended a minimum of 10 percent of each of the 16 habitat types within the park be classified as ‘green zones.’

‘Less than one percent of the entire Moreton Bay area is protected and that is obviously inadequate,’ he said.
‘This review relates to the sustainability of the bay area for both the environment and the users.’

by Bob Wonders

Source: Powerboat World

Police have concerns for a fisherman who has been missing since yesterday morning.

The 40-year-old Werribee man left the Werribee South boat ramp around 6am in his 5.4 metre Carribean vessel.

The boat is about one year-old, described as having a white fibreglass hull with a navy blue canopy and registration KG386.

The fisherman is described as approximately 169cm tall, medium build with dark hair.

He was last seen wearing blue hard yakka shorts, blue singlet and thongs.

Police have nine marine units, a fixed aircraft and a helicopter currently searching for the fisherman and his vessel.

Anyone who was fishing in the area yesterday and may have seen the man is urged to contact 000.

Sergeant Carla Coslovich

Media Officer

THE popular Great Inland Fishing Festival is getting closer.

And organisers are predicting last year’s record entry will be seriously challenged.

More than 700 anglers from the coast, New England, North-West and Hunter Valley chased the cash last year on Copeton Dam, and this year more sections have been added for juniors.

The Great Inland Fishing Championships are a catch-and-release competition.

The championships start on Friday, November 30 and finish on Sunday, December 2.

On the opening two days fish will be measured between 7am and 7pm, and on the final day between 7am and 11am.

While there are cash prizes every day for longest species, points are also accumulated for the various championships, including the Great Inland Fishing Champion who will take home $1,000 and a rod and reel, and the runner-up receives $500.

Two-time winner Jim Buxton from the Graman Fishing Club will be back to defend his title.

But there will be some hot competition on his back this year.

Prize money of $1000 is on offer for the best four-person team from a registered fishing club, and the money has to be allocated to the restocking of fingerlings.

Again this year, the first 100 juniors (under 16) to register will receive a free rod and reel.

Registrations are now being taken at Tourism Inverell, Roy Parsons Marine Centre and Inverell Motor Wreckers, or from Thursday, November 29 at the Northcott Centre at Copeton Dam.

Registrations will also be taken at Copeton Northern Foreshores and on the bank flag station at Sepoy Knob.

Source: Inverell Times