Shades Fishing News

A last minute meeting about proposed changes to recreational fishing rules will be held in Margaret River next week.

A public consultation phase on the changes was conducted late last year, but fishers and local politicians in the south-west have repeatedly called for more information to be shared in the southern fishing areas.

Department of Fisheries’ spokesman Shane O’Donoghue says the Fisheries Minister is making sure he hears the views of all recreational fishers.

“The Minister wants to be thorough and there’s certainly some significant issues in terms of reductions in catch,” he said.

“The Minister’s taken steps in respect to commercial fishing and still there are some significant management challenges for creational fishing.

“The Minister wants to ensure that all the views come in.”

The Margaret River meeting will be held on May 1, a day after the public comment period ends.

Source: ABC News

Deborah Morris

FORMER prime minister Malcolm Fraser is offering a local fisherman up to $400 for a day’s fishing in Western Port.

The keen angler has taken the unusual step of taking out a private ad (right) to find the right man for the job.

Mr Fraser, who lives in Red Hill, has stipulated that his guide must be either an “ex or retired fisherman” who has his own seaworthy boat. And he is prepared to pay $350-$400 a day for a “successful operation”.

The prime minister of Australia from 1975-83 lists fishing as his hobby on the Federal Government’s website and is an experienced fly fisherman, according to VR Fish executive director Christopher Collins. “I’ve run into Malcolm a couple of times in Tasmania, fly fishing for trout,” said the head of Victoria’s peak recreational fishing body.

Westernport and Peninsula Fishing Charters charges $200 an hour, with a minimum of four hours for an exclusive charter. For that, you get bait, tackle, rods and a meal on an 11.5m boat, with a skipper and a deckhand to clean the fish, owner Michelle Gray said.

Whiting, gummy shark and elephant fish are all biting at the moment.

Stony Point fishermen were all for the idea of being Mr Fraser’s fishing buddy.

“For $400 a day, I’d go fishing with the Queen,” Francis ‘Captain Salty’ Wood said. His son, Gary, said he would even throw in sandwiches for that price.

But what if you don’t catch anything? Do you still earn your $400 if you come home empty-handed?

“It doesn’t work that way,” Mr Collins said. “A successful operation is if the boat doesn’t sink.”

Mr Fraser did not respond to the Leader’s request for an interview.

Source : Mornington Peninsula Reader

DANE Kiggins, 10, and his brothers Ben, 17, and Kurt, 16, take their fishing seriously.

The trio from Lilli Pilli are regularly out in their tinny, plumbing the depths of Port Hacking.

So when Dane hooked a 10 kilogram mulloway the family was seriously impressed.

“He was delighted,” Ms Kiggins said. “He came in hugging the fish and dripping water all over the place.”

The Kiggins boys’ grandfather owned a fishing boat and Ms Kiggins said she thought fishing was in the genes.

“It’s something you love or you don’t,” she said.

“The boys are very dedicated though. They’re out there on the water every night.”

Source: St George - Sutherland Shire Leader

The Minister for Primary Industries and Water, David Llewellyn, today launched the first Fishcare Volunteer’s fish identification and measuring stations at McGees Bridge, Midway Point.

“The new Fishcare Volunteer’s fish identification and measuring stations will become an iconic and visually attractive part of Tasmania’s maritime environment as well as providing recreational fishers and visitors with the knowledge and tools to fish sustainably,” Mr Llewellyn said.

“The fish identification and measuring stations, with their unmistakable fish-shaped signposts, include full-colour illustrations to help fishers correctly identify Tasmania’s marine scalefish species, as well as information on size and possession limits and a ruler to allow fishers to measure their catch accurately.

“They also include information on Tasmania’s marine protected species, fishing licence types, local fishing area restrictions such as shark refuges, marine reserves and research areas; how to correctly handle your catch for a successful release; where to get more fishing information; and the Fishwatch 24-hour hotline to report any suspected illegal fishing activities.”

The Minister said the installation of 60 fish identification and measuring stations at popular fishing sites has the potential to provide information to more than 30,000 interstate and international visitors and 330,000 recreational fishers each year.

“These fish identification and measuring stations provide the information fishers need to know exactly when they need to know it – when the fish is on the line, not when it is dispatched and filleted and can no longer be successfully returned to the water,” Mr Llewellyn said.

“I was pleased to lend the Tasmanian Government’s support to this important project following the Fishcare Volunteer’s application for more than $60,000 in project funding through the Fishwise Community Grants program.

“I would also like to acknowledge the support of the Australian Government’s Recreational Fishing Community Grants Programme which is recognition of the significant challenges Tasmania faces in establishing education signage around a 4,882km coastline – greater than the coastlines of New South Wales and Victoria combined.

“This is truly a whole-of-Government project with Tasmanian local councils also playing a significant role by installing the stations at jetties and boat ramps around the state.

“With these new Fishcare Volunteer’s fish identification and measuring stations and more than 100 Fishcare Volunteers spreading the Fish for the Future message we can be confident that our fishing resources will be maintained for our future and our children’s future,” he said.

The fish identification and measuring stations were manufactured by the Tasmanian business, Eye Spy Signs, based on a design by the Department of Primary Industries and Water, and using fish illustrations by Tasmanian artist, Peter Gouldthorpe.

WAUCHOPE RSL Fishing Club’s April Outing saw some excellent bags of fish presented to the Weigh master.

A few members’ bags had some prime specimens among them.

Graeme Lamb presented a nice 14.04kg Jewfish, Pat McInherney had a 2.29kg Tailor plus a .950kg Bream. Tammy and Brett Forster got amongst the Groper with 5.44kg and 5.89 kg specimens.

The highlight of the outing for some was Tammy Forster winning this month’s Deep Sea Top 5 again. Tammy has taken it to the boys all year, consistently producing good bags of fish and now has a commanding lead in the prestigious Top 5 competition 3 points ahead of the nearest competitor her husband Brett.

Another highlight was the return of Phil(I used to limp a lot) Howard after a few months recuperating from a knee replacement operation, he has no excuse now and we expect better things from him this year.

The operation slowed down his fishing over the last few months, it is even rumoured he sat down to a meal of Fish Fingers on Good Friday- who would think he would have to resort to that.

A few other anglers who showed up with credible bags were Terry Hollis with 21 fish, Andy Welsh with 13 fish, Dean Cook with 16 and Ron Murphy who redeemed himself after last months “duck egg” with a tremendous 21 fish.

The next outing is May 17 and 18 with the weigh-in at the Wauchope RSL at 2pm Sunday, any new fish is wanting to have a bash at competition fishing Should give Graeme Lamb a call on 6585 3825

The top 5 placings to date are as follows

Deep sea Form

Tammie Foster 19 pts (1,1,2,1)

Brett Foster 16 pts (3,2,1,2)

Allan Foster 5 pts (4,3,0,0)

Haydon Foster 4 pts (2,0,0,0)

Ron Murphy 4 pts (0,4,0,4)

Mat Millward 3 pts (0,0,0,3)

Beach Rock & Estuary

Pat McInherny 15 pts (=3,3,1,2)

Barry Miller 11 pts (2,0,2,3)

John Miller 7 pts (1,0,4,0)

Graeme Lamb 11 pts (0,1,5,1)

Lyn Lugg 4pts (0,2,0,0)

Dean Cook 5 pts (5,4,0,4)

Daryl Hollis 3pts (0,0,3,0)

Cody Millward 3 pts 3,0,0,0)

Andy Welsh 1pts (0,5,0,0)

Terry Hollis 1 pts (0,0,0,5)

Source: Wauchope Gazette

ORGANISERS of the 2008 The Observer Boyne Tannum Hook Up have vowed the decision to scrap a local mail out of entry forms is not biased against the region’s residents.

Concerns have been raised over the Hook Up committee’s decision to cut down on postage costs by not mailing out entry forms to those living in the 4680 postcode.

Instead organisers will on Saturday host an official launch to this year’s event, inviting all local residents to come to Bray Park, Boyne Island, to register their entries.

For those unable to attend the launch, entry forms will also be available from Boyne Island Bait and Tackle and Pat’s Tackle World after this date.

Hook Up Committee president Jeff Amos said there seemed to be some confusion surrounding the decision to only post entry forms to those not living in the 4680 postcode.

Mr Amos said some local residents were under the misconception non-local entries would be accepted first, but this was not the case.

“On Monday we will mail out all the interstate, intra-state and overseas entries,” Mr Amos said.

“If any entries come in before our launch day we will not be processing them until the launch day.”

Mr Amos and Hook Up Committee publicity officer Darryl Branthwaite were hoping for a huge response to the launch which will be held from 6am to 5pm.

The day will include processing of 2008 entries, the displaying of some of the boat prizes, incentive prize giveaways, sausage sizzle, bar facilities and live broadcasting by 4CC.

“We have a huge range of prizes to be won by those who register on the launch day,” Mr Branthwaite said.

This year’s Hook Up will see more than $200,000 in prizes up for grabs between June 6 and 9.

Like last year, senior entrant numbers will be capped at 3000 and junior numbers will remain unlimited.

Source : Gladstone Observer

A package of proposed initiatives to save some of Western Australia’s most popular and iconic oceanic fish species has been released by Fisheries Minister Jon Ford.

This package, being released for a four-week consultation period, comes as WA faces unprecedented pressure from its escalating recreational fishing fleet.

The package of 11 recommendations is aimed at saving some of the State’s most vulnerable iconic fish by improving the management of recreational fishing off a section of the WA coast (between north of Kalbarri and east of Augusta, called the West Coast Bioregion).

Mr Ford said a new approach to managing recreational fishing was imperative to ensure the survival of some of the State’s most sought-after fish - especially the ‘Vulnerable 5’ - dhufish, pink snapper, baldchin groper, breaksea cod and red snapper.

The Minister said recent scientific research showed that populations of some of the State’s most vulnerable and iconic species were at risk of collapsing because of overfishing. One of the contributing factors to this overfishing had been the burgeoning recreational fishing sector.

‘These warning signs tell us that we have to act now to save our vulnerable and iconic fish.

Everyone has a role to play to save our fish to ensure we have fish for current generations as well as fish for the future,’ he said.

‘A balance between preserving the enjoyment of the recreational fishing experience and saving our iconic fish is achievable. And importantly, it’s crucial that we strive to achieve this balance.

‘I believe the package of recommended changes that I am releasing today will achieve this balance between the social value of recreational fishing and the need to save our fish for the future.

‘The package is designed to achieve a 50 per cent catch reduction of these key species in the West Coast Bioregion. Our best scientists say this is a necessary target to help stabilise and replenish these fish populations.’

The package of 11 recommendations includes reduced bag and boat limits for certain species, increased size limits for pink snapper, a split seasonal restriction for the ‘Vulnerable 5’, and greater protection of fish in the Abrolhos Island fish habitat area.

Mr Ford said it was vital for Western Australians to note that the package of recommended changes only applied to iconic species that were most at risk - especially the ‘Vulnerable 5’.

‘The changes that I am recommending will allow recreational fishers to still catch a wide range of fish species,’ he said.

‘Specifically, the proposed package will not apply to people fishing for the usual fish species that are caught from beaches, jetties and groynes. Nor will changes apply to people fishing for species such as squid, whiting, skippy or fishing for ‘pelagic’ fish such as Spanish mackerel and tuna.’

The Minister said the proposal for a split seasonal restriction would prohibit the take of the ‘Vulnerable 5’ in two parts; October 15 to December 25, and February 1 to March 31. This split approach to the seasonal restriction would reduce the amount of fish caught over any year and offered some spawning protection.

‘This split season restriction is a balanced approach to offer reasonable protection to our most vulnerable fish, while also giving people the opportunity to still catch these fish during the height of the summer holiday season, which is when most Western Australians want to go fishing,’ Mr Ford said.

The recommendations, which apply only to the West Coast Bioregion (between Zuytdorp Cliffs, north of Kalbarri and Black Point, east of Augusta), include:

1. Reducing the individual mixed bag limit of Category 1 ‘high risk’ Fish from seven to four fish;
2. Reducing the daily bag limit of pink snapper from four to two fish;
3. Increasing the size limit of pink snapper from 41cm to 50cm;
4. Introduction of a boat limit of two daily bag limits for Category 1 ‘high risk’ Fish. Charter
boats will be allowed to have a bag limit of two Category 1 ‘high risk’ Fish per customer;
5. Seasonal restriction that prohibits the take of the ‘Vulnerable 5’ species - dhufish, pink snapper, baldchin groper, breaksea cod and red snapper. The restriction will apply October 15 to December 25, and February 1 to March 31 each year;
6. Prohibiting spear fishing on compressed air for ‘high risk’ Fish. Also prohibiting the use of power-assisted fishing reels;
7. Initiating discussions with fishing clubs to discourage public fishing competitions from targeting high risk species such as the ‘Vulnerable 5’;
8. Reducing the finfish possession limit at the Abrolhos Islands, and the Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Area;
9. Enhancing the existing voluntary Recreational Angler Logbook program to provide additional data;
10. Establishing a Recreational Fishing Trust, using existing current revenue that is raised through existing fishing licences; and
11. Investigating the introduction of large fish reserves.

The Minister urged Western Australians to make their submissions to this package of recommendations, contained in the Ministerial Position Paper. Submissions can also include references to additional proposals and issues detailed in the Fisheries Management Paper 228. Both documents and submission details can be found online at http://www.fish.wa.gov.au.

The deadline for submissions is 5pm, Wednesday, April 30, 2008.

Source: http://www.biawa.asn.au

Five fishermen have been rescued off Mackay in north Queensland after spending more than four hours floating in open sea.

The group was fishing on Cole Reef, about 93 kilometres north-east of Mackay, when their boat sank at around 6:00pm AEST.

They managed to activate a distress beacon, which led searchers to their position.

Daniel Hoare from the Central Queensland Rescue Helicopter Service says he was running low on fuel when he spotted the men, and dropped a life raft.

“It was due to sheer luck that we put the search light straight onto the guys, they were clinging to eskies,” he said.

“There was actually five guys [and] a trawling vessel that was in the vicinity picked the five guys out of the life raft.”

Source : ABC News

Fish stocks could be at threat in Wyangala with the confirmation Redfin perch have been caught in the dam.

“Over the last few weeks anglers have reported catching Redfin perch in Wyangala Dam for the first time,” NSW Primary Industries Minister Macdonald said.

“Redfin perch are aggressive, voracious predators, eating small native fish and the juveniles of large native fish.”

NSW DPI aquatic biosecurity officer Clare Murphy said although Redfin perch are popular with some anglers for their fighting qualities and taste, they are considered a serious pest in NSW.

“They have the potential to degrade both native and salmonid recreational fisheries as they build up large numbers in enclosed waters and eliminate other species through predation and by competing with them for food and habitat,” she said.

“Sites in the Abercrombie River, Wyangala Dam and Upper Lachlan are being monitored to track the spread of redfin and investigate its impacts on Macquarie perch, a threatened species in NSW, and other native fish populations,” Ms Murphy said.

“Wyangala Dam is a popular recreational fishing area which is stocked with native species by NSW DPI.

“This past year NSW DPI stocked 135,000 Murray cod and intends to release 100,000 Golden perch into the dam later this year.

“Rainbow and Brown trout are also stocked in sections of the Lachlan and Abercrombie catchments.

“The presence of Redfin perch in the Wyangala Dam, an area where they have not been previously recorded, may negatively impact the survival of stocked fish.”

NSW DPI will be circulating Redfin leaflets and posters in the Wyangala area to raise awareness of this pest species.”

If you catch a pest Redfin perch, kill it humanely and dispose of it appropriately. Don’t return pest fish to the water.

People can report suspected pest fish sightings to DPI’s 24 hour aquatic pests hotline on 02 4916 3877. If possible, take a photo and email it to aquatic.pests@dpi.nsw.gov.au.

A PACKAGE of proposed initiatives to save some of Western Australia’s most popular oceanic fish species was released last Friday by Fisheries Minister Jon Ford.

The package, released for a four-week consultation period, has 11 recommendations aimed at saving some of the State’s fish by improving the management of recreational fishing off a section of the WA coast (between north of Kalbarri and east of Augusta, called the West Coast Bioregion).

Mr Ford said a new approach to managing recreational fishing was imperative to ensure the survival of some of the State’s most sought-after fish—especially the ‘Vulnerable 5’—dhufish, pink snapper, baldchin groper, breaksea cod and red snapper.

The Minister said recent scientific research showed that populations of some of the State’s most vulnerable and iconic species were at risk of collapsing because of overfishing, including the burgeoning recreational fishing sector.

“These warning signs tell us that we have to act now to save our vulnerable and iconic fish,” he said.

“A balance between preserving the enjoyment of the recreational fishing experience and saving our iconic fish is achievable.

“The package is designed to achieve a 50 per cent catch reduction of these key species in the West Coast Bioregion.

“The changes that I am recommending will allow recreational fishers to still catch a wide range of fish species.

“Specifically, the proposed package will not apply to people fishing for the usual fish species that are caught from beaches, jetties and groynes.

“Nor will changes apply to people fishing for species such as squid, whiting, skippy or fishing for ‘pelagic’ fish such as Spanish mackerel and tuna.”

The proposal for a split seasonal restriction would prohibit the take of the ‘Vulnerable 5’ in two parts; October 15 to December 25, and February 1 to March 31.

Relevant documents and submission details can be found online at http://www.fish.wa.gov.au.

The deadline for submissions is 5pm, Wednesday, April 30.

Source : Augusta Margaret River Mail