Shades Fishing News

THE Environmental Protection Authority is poised to make a decision on a penalty for Goulburn Murray Water for its involvement in hundreds of fish deaths in the Loddon River.

The water authority released an environmental flow into the river on March 10 for stock and domestic purposes, overflowing the Serpentine Weir.

The Salisbury West Landcare Group said they discovered “hundreds of dead native fish and carp” days later.

The EPA can fine organisations up to $240,000 for offences under pollution provisions of the Environment Protection Act.

An EPA investigation found between 100 and 120 dead fish including Murray cod, golden perch and European carp on March 16 about three kilometres from the Serpentine Weir.

The fish were found scattered over two kilometres.

EPA Bendigo manager Jeff Cummins said yesterday that the water authority had met with the EPA last week.

“We’ve now got a much better understanding on what went on, but a decision on any sort of penalty has to be made at the Melbourne office,” he said.

The Advertiser reported on April 8 that landowners were up in arms about the fish deaths.

“They should have never done it,” Salisbury West Landcare Group secretary John Vanston said at the time.

“Nobody was told about it.

“The river has been getting replenished with fish and then they go and do something like this.”

Source: Bendigo Advertiser

Landholders around the Wakool River System gave State Member for Murray-Darling John Williams a first-hand look at the desperate condition of the waterways recently.

Mr Williams met with members of Merran Creek Trust at landholder Geoff McDonald’s Woodleigh property to talk about the immediate concerns of the trust - ranging from the impacts of acid sulphate soil, salt intrusions being caused to Merran Creek and its surrounding environment landscape and wildlife, and why Section 323 of the Water Act is hampering farmers’ attempts to effectively make a living.

Mr Williams said it was critical that he met with the trust to get a first-hand look at the dire situation and to hear landholders’ concerns regarding the Wakool River System.

“It was honestly very sobering and horrific to see what was a beautiful and forging landscape next to Merran Creek . . . eaten away by lack of water because of conditions forced upon landholders under Section 323 of the Water Act,” Mr Williams said.

“Under the Act the Department of Water and Energy has imposed on irrigators, Merran Creek . . . has only received two `pulses’ of water . . . a year for the past two years.

“Due to the government imposing and enforcing the 323 temporary water restriction on the trust system, it enables the department, to the environment’s detriment, to close Merran Creek and disable the irrigators any form of irrigation.

“This then has severe ramifications to Merran Creek and the Wakool River System.

“There are increased fish kills, huge salt intrusions into the creek, and the build-up of acid sulphate soil which kills trees and the reproduction of crayfish.

“The lack of water has also seen the diminishing of massive amounts of bird life and kills to Murray cod,” he said.

Mr Williams briefly met with South Australia River Murray Minister and Water Security Minister Karlene Maywald.

While acknowledging that the South Australian Government might call on NSW for water if there was low rainfall during the next financial year, Mr Williams said it was imperative however that if this happened the constituents in the MurrayDarling electorate and their water needs did not suffer in the process.

Source : Country News

NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) intends to keep Lake Mulwala open for anglers despite a planned lowering of the Lake’s water level in late April to control an invasive aquatic weed.

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority, in conjunction with Goulburn-Murray Water, has planned the lowering of the water level to control the spread of an Egeria densa, commonly known as dense waterweed.

NSW DPI Senior Fisheries Manager Inland, Cameron Westaway, said he had received a number of enquiries from concerned anglers regarding the impact of the lowering of Lake Mulwala.

“They wanted to know what effect this would have on the Murray cod fishery and whether we would instigate a fishing closure,” he said.

“NSW DPI is not going to implement a fishing closure on the lake as the fishing is good at this time of year regardless of the lowering.”

Mr Westaway said access would be somewhat restricted, and provided anglers stick to bag and size limits, NSW DPI did not believe that fishing posed a serious risk to Murray cod populations in the Lake.

“Lake Mulwala is our premier Murray cod fishery and we are committed to ensuring its sustainability,” he said.

Fisheries Officers will be monitoring the situation and if anyone sees any illegal activity they should report it on (02) 6042 4204 or 0419 185 548.

Anglers are reminded that the size limit for a Murray cod has increased from 55cm to 60cm when the annual Murray Cod season started in December last year.

There is a daily bag limit of two Murray cod per person a day and a total possession limit of four from either rivers or dams. The minimum legal length of Murray cod is 60cm, but anglers can keep only one fish of more than 100cm in length.

Detailed information on freshwater fishing rules can be found at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/recreational/regulations and in the NSW DPI freshwater fishing guide.

These are available from NSW DPI Fisheries offices and most places where NSW recreational fishing licenses are sold.

Source: The Land farmonline.com.au

THE patchy rainfall did not put off the eager Leslie Dam campers over the Easter long weekend with ample fish for a Good Friday feast.

Washpool Camping Reserve manager Peter Guy said fishing was excellent this year with several fishermen catching their bag limit of yellow bellies.

“The biggest Murray Cod caught was nearing up to 40 pounds with hundreds of campers enjoying themselves here,” Mr Guy said.

“We recorded rainfall of 11mm out here on Saturday.

“Hundreds of campers came to Warwick this Easter weekend from everywhere and far away as South Australia and Western Australia - a lot of people come here because it’s an affordable holiday in hard times.”

Mr Guy said campers did everything they could to keep cosy in the wet weather.

“Campers kept warm by burning firewood in excess of 200 tonnes,” he said.

“I personally noticed over the years the average camp comprises of a lot of caravans and trailers.

“There was no outrageous behaviour this year - the new rock fence was a great idea and it stops hooligans from driving around the camp area.”

Mr Guy said kids had a great time with the hunt for Easter Eggs on Sunday.

“Some adults enjoyed it too,” he joked.

Marie and Vince Manthey from Caloundra said they enjoyed camping at Leslie Dam.

“We have been coming here every Easter for 10 years now but it has never rained before,” Mrs Manthey said.

“I enjoyed the rain - this is real camping.

“God willing we will still be coming to camp at Leslie Dam for the next 10 years.”

Sandhya Shetty

Source : Warwick Daily News

Rod Mackenzie at Codmac Fishing Lures last newsletter just stated that they have a special on over Easter with spinnerbaits, and have dropped the price.

Probably won’t last long, so now looks like the time to pick up your favourite

Personally, I’m going for the White codmac lure this coming Easter. Looks like just the ticket for a large murray cod!

here’s hoping I get to give it a good wurl at the Murray Monsters Fishing trip!