Shades Fishing News

Scientists say increasing numbers of Murray cod are dying in the lower reaches of the river.

A scientist at the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), Dr Qifeng Ye, has been monitoring Murray cod numbers since 2005.

Dr Ye says the increase in cod deaths this spring has been noticeable.

She says the drought and low water levels could be to blame.

“The number of Murray cod is pretty low that we collected, so we still need to think about an improved mechanism of efficient and cost-effective way of assessing the Murray cod abundancy in the lower Murray,” she said.

Source : ABC News

TASMANIAN freshwater anglers, normally content to cast a line and forget about distractions such as the economy and politics, are mobilising for the fight of their lives.

They fear the centrepiece of a $115 million world famous trout fishing industry — Arthurs Lake, in Tasmania’s highlands — is under threat from an ill-conceived irrigation scheme.

More broadly, they are concerned the rush to “drought-proof Tasmania” with a series of 11 irrigation schemes, costing taxpayers $240 million, could create an ecological disaster on the scale of the Murray-Darling.

“We have got a crisis on the doorstop of Tasmania’s lakes and the Government is talking about 11 irrigation schemes for which there is no known science and which promise to alter the nature of Tasmania,” says Richard Dax, executive officer of Anglers Alliance Tasmania.

Mr Dax is marshalling his forces to oppose one of the first ofthe irrigation schemes, the Arthurs Lake Pipeline.

It is a $61 million plan to take up to 28,000 megalitres of water each year from Arthurs Lake to the lower midlands, where — 73km away — decades of drought have farmers in despair.

The problem is that Arthurs Lake, like many of Tasmania’s highland lakes, is also feeling the effects of record low rainfalls.

A mecca in Tasmania’s brown trout fishery, Arthurs Lake is already 5.4m below full supply, according to fishermen.

If it drops further, they fear turbidity — murkiness — will become a problem here as it has in other “over-exploited” lakes, such as Lake Sorell and Lake Crescent.

Turbidity is a turn-off to anglers and cashed-up tourists who flock to the region.

Former guide Neil Grose, publisher of The Tasmanian Sportsfisher, says: “The whole economy up here is built around fishing — the place exists because of trout fishing.”

Mr Dax will next week begin talks with the conservation movement to broaden the fight beyond the state’s 30,000 anglers.

Turbidity is already an occasional problem in Arthurs Lake and Mr Dax says the water level has fallen 1.5m below a level set in 1993 in an agreement between fishermen and Hydro Tasmania.

Anglers are demanding a full environmental impact study before the pipeline proceeds and argue endangered species, including freshwater crayfish and several species of galaxias fish, are also at risk.

The body responsible for the Arthurs Lake Pipeline proposal is the Tasmanian Irrigation Development Board.

It argues the loss of 28,000ML a year from the lake for irrigation will be compensated by Hydro no longer diverting exactly the same quantity for power generation.

But with Hydro dams still only at 30 per cent capacity because of lack of rainfall, the argument is not washing with fishermen.

“If these drought conditions continue, it is quite likely the Hydro will want their bit as well,” Mr Dax says.

Water is already being diverted from Arthurs Lake to Lake River to meet the uncapped rights of a number of irrigators.

Irrigation Board chief executive Jock Chudacek concedes there is no guarantee Hydro will not decide to divert water for power generation, but argues the irrigation deal does nothing to increase the potential demands on the lake. He agrees, however, that action is needed to end uncapped water rights for the Lake River irrigators.

And he assures anglers that all irrigation schemes will be subject to environmental impact studies.

Alan Harradine, the Tasmanian Government’s general manager of Water Resources, is urging calm. He says all water development proposals will need to meet state and federal statutory approval processes and National Water Initiative requirements.

Source: The Australian

Steve Cooper

MANY anglers keep a journal or diary of their fishing. A diary gives the angler a history of what happened, an opportunity to reflect, and hopefully a crystal ball into the future.

Most of us believe that history, at least when it comes to fish movements, will repeat.

If you are not right, then at least you can say you were guessing with some authority.

Moreover, when someone says the fishing isn’t as good as it was 20 years ago, you can turn to your diary and make an assessment based on the written word, rather than a badly chaffed memory.

Don’t be surprised if you find the fishing has improved.

When I began keeping a fishing diary, there was a tendency to write more than necessary. After a few years, the trips become shorter, at least in words. The flowery prose gave way to factual information.

To that end, the diarists among us keep notes and list the factors we think are important - things like tide, wind, barometer, bait used and, always, moon phase.

Saltwater anglers can become obsessed by the moon.

Some prefer the new moon for snapper, and the full moon for bream and gummy sharks.

In the freshwater, anglers appear more interested in barometer readings, especially in lakes but also on rivers where native species like Murray cod are being sought.

I believe fish react to outside influences, and that the same rules do not necessarily apply to all waters, or the same fish wherever they are caught.

Sometimes, though, you come across a recurring sequence that seems to indicate when and where certain species will come on the chew.

Time and tide are considerations for thinking salt-water anglers, and the overriding influence on tide is the moon.

Therefore, whether you think moon phases or tides, you are still thinking in lunar terms.

Even many freshwater anglers will fish only when the moon is down, or on the dark side.

Lunar cycles play an important role on the habits of fish; defining that role is difficult.

Next to the sea, the moon is the strongest primeval urge in us.

Science has proven that some living organisms respond to the moon’s phases.

The feeding cycle of oysters is influenced by lunar change, and fiddler crabs change colour according to the moon.

Theorising about fishing is easy, but as most anglers probably realise, fish are not always predictable. It’s what keeps us coming back.

Most anglers have reasons as to why fish bite better at certain times on certain baits.

But for all the theory, fish don’t always co-operate and coming up with a logical answer why fish don’t do what they are supposed to do is the hard part.

Anglers regarded as experts by their peers don’t always know the real reasons behind a hot bite, or lack of bites.

Experts are those anglers who have just experienced a hot bite and caught plenty.

The fact that any fish were caught could have been either a stroke of luck or pure genius.

The big question lies in discovering why and when fish can be expected to bite.

In the late 1960s, John Alden Knight’s Solunar Tables became available in Australia.

Knight believed there were major and minor periods of activity when fish were more likely to feed, and this was due to the moon: its phase and proximity to the Earth and the position of the sun at the same time.

It was a complicated theory but one I followed through with regularity for a few years by keeping a diary of my fishing with the relevant lunar notes.

There was some merit in Knight’s predictions.

Melbourne computer guru Tim Smith has come up with a similar theory and put out a small booklet called Tim Smith’s Solar & Lunar Fishing and Hunting Times 2009.

If you are into moon phases and fish predictions, and want to maintain a diary, then the Anglers Journal & Almanac, which contains Tim’s lunar predictions as well as other information including tide charts and journal entry pages, is worth a look.

Anglers Journal & Almanac is published by the Australian Fishing Network, RRP: $24.99.

* Steve Cooper can be heard on the Casting Off program on Radio Sport927 between 4.30am and 6.30am on Saturdays.

Source : Weekly Times

The boys at Rapid Release have put out another DVD to follow up their first ‘Cod Almighty’, aptly named ‘Cod Almighty 2′, you can view the trailer and purchase here.

The gang take on some mighty Murray Cod in this their second foray in video of some of the biggest catches I have seen. With great tips and full of knowledge, both these DVD videos are a must have for any keen Murray Cod fisherman, chasing the legend.

It’s fast paced action coupled with insider education that brings you up to speed for the day you hook onto that monster your always chasing. Some of the biggest fish caught on film, don’t miss out.

Local fishermen and women have again this week reported some of the best fishing in times gone by, with golden perch, silver perch, European carp and the endangered trout cod feeding aggressively along many stretches of the Macquarie River.

Matt Campbell, Jason Walters, Tina Sykes and I enjoyed a ‘once in a blue moon’ lure casting session that saw 14 fish come to the net in just a little over two hours, and incredibly nine of the fish caught and released were trout cod.

Penalties for being caught in possession of a trout cod are severe and it is totally illegal to fish for the species, but they are becoming a more regular bi-catch for those fishing for golden perch and murray cod, when in season, along the Macquarie in and around Dubbo district.

Trout cod have officially been known to grow to 16kgs or 35.2 pounds and are a highly aggressive fish with plenty of potential to become a self-sustaining freshwater sport fishing species. Local legends even speak of the species reaching a massive 30kgs, or 66 pounds, in the Dubbo region.

It is fantastic to see the species thriving in certain areas in the Macquarie River, and if all anglers continue to respect the endangered status assigned to the species, it may not be long until we see trout cod population numbers soar to a level where they may be legally targeted by freshwater anglers.

If you happen to catch a fish you suspect of being a trout cod, but are not quite sure, one way of telling for certain is by looking at the jaw area.

A trout cod’s top jaw overhangs the bottom, whereas a murray cod has a larger bottom jaw which overshoots the top. Trout cod must be released without harm immediately after being caught.

Matt Campbell had a run-in with a 62cm trout cod late on Sunday afternoon on the outskirts of Dubbo whilst casting an AusSpin TwinSpin half ounce spinnerbait in electric purple, and did well to maneuver the ‘Trouty’ out of dense structure, across the weed bed and into the bank to be released.

The fish pulled line off the reel at will and was beautifully coloured. Well done to Matt on a great catch.

Burrendong Dam

Mark Rich of Wellington reported some amazing happenings in a bay off the Macquarie Arm of Burrendong Dam this week, as thousands of massive European Carp moved into the shallows to spawn.

Mark managed to scoop up around 180 of the carp with a landing net in the shallows, with the average weight estimated at 10 pounds.

Mark was left wishing he had twenty mates up in that bay with him that afternoon as thousands of carp may have been removed. Well done to Mark on getting rid of as many of the pests as he did, and thanks to the kids who busily dispatched all the carp as they were placed up on the bank.

News from DPI

A fisherman who failed to pay for a recreational fishing licence has ended up with a $600 fine - enough to have taken out licences for the next 24 years, Minister for Primary Industries Ian Macdonald announced earlier this month.

The man was found fishing off Sow and Pigs Reef in Sydney Harbour when he was apprehended.

“The man was issued with a $200 penalty infringement notice, but elected to take the matter to court,” he said.

“The magistrate found the man, from Denistone, guilty in his absence, and when he failed to appear for sentencing, brought down the $600 fine.

“The maximum penalty for this offence is $2200.

“With the three-year licence fee at $75, the fine would have bought eight renewals.”

All recreational fishers in NSW are required to pay the fishing fee, unless exempt. Those who already have a fishing fee receipt are also reminded to check that the receipt is current and valid before going fishing. Visit www.dpi.nsw.gov.au for more information.

Source : Dubbo Daily Liberal

GEELONG residents yesterday sent a strong message to pesky carp in the Barwon River.

Hundreds of locals gathered at the Barwon Valley Park to let the fish know they were coming to get them.

The gathering was the official launch of Clean Up Australia’s 10th Catch-A-Carp Day.

The launch ensured the public received all the information they needed on the Saturday, October 18, event.

Clean Up Australia chairman Ian Kiernan was there to show his support for the event and tell people about the problems carp caused.

“Carp are an introduced species that destroy the habitat native fish rely on for survival,” Mr Kiernan said.

“For everyone who loves and enjoys the Barwon River, your help is needed to rid a menace that, unfortunately, we are all responsible for creating.”

Entry is free and open to fishers and non-fishers alike.

The fish-out will run from 7.30am to 2pm and participants can enjoy a wide variety of events, which include fishing clinics for children, marine conservation workshops, prize drawings and a free barbecue.

Registration is essential.

Source : The Geelong Advertiser

The much-needed downpour of rain over the long weekend failed to deter many keen Dubbo anglers who travelled across the central west to wet a line and take advantage of Monday’s public holiday.

Enduring 40 knot tent-trashing winds, lightning and whitecaps was all part and parcel of the October long weekend, and was seemingly well and truly worthwhile for many from all reports.

Burrendong Dam

Ben Mosely fished Burrendong Dam and found the goldens well and truly on the chew. Ben managed 16 fish for the trip, with the biggest measuring 51cm and weighing a hefty 7lbs. The fish was caught casting a Jackall Brothers TN 60 lipless crank bait with just 6lb braid and a 12lb leader used. For his report Ben picks up a selection of Jaz lures from Explore Outdoors.

Justin Hoy, Michael Cooper and Bill North had similar experiences trolling the walls near the spillway and casting timber in Oakey Creek, pulling in 15 fish with the biggest a 52cm Golden Perch.

Shane May and Curtis Barber fished the Cudgegong arm and also cast lures in the Macquarie arm. They bagged 8 ‘yellas’ and caught and released one 55cm cod that ate a Rapala hard bodied lure cast into the sticks.

Lake Glenbawn

Mick Coad, Neil Duncan and I fished Lake Glenbawn in some tough conditions.

Huge storms rolled across the dam periodically with gale force winds demolishing some unlucky campers’ tents, and blowing a boat from its moorings, forcing the owner to go looking on the other side of the dam the following morning. The many people at the lake were treated to a show by Mother Nature on Sunday night with spectacular lightning strikes blistering across the sky all night.

The final catch was a handful of Australian bass and five yellowbelly which were caught both casting and trolling.

Wyangala Dam

Staff at Wyangala Waters State Park were absolutely flabbergasted by the past week’s events, with silver perch literally jumping on the hook.

Anglers from all over NSW flocked to Wyangala to see the frenzy for themselves.

Fishermen and women have been bagging out on silvers in under an hour, with one angler in a few hours catching and releasing more than 30 fish that averaged 40cm.

Anglers fishing off the bank using worms as bait, and also boat-based anglers have all been doing extremely well at Wyangala, so it could be worth taking the drive for a bit of school holiday excitement for the kids.

Wyangala has had 45mm of much needed rain in the last few days.

Copeton Dam

Copeton has also had good rain in the past few days. The Yellowbelly are biting well.

Trolling lures, and bait fishing with shrimp, worms and yabbies is all producing fish. Some cod have also turned up, but Copeton Waters State Park staff were happy to report almost all anglers have been removing the hook with the fish still in the water, so as not to disturb the fish further at the time of year that is critical to the fisheries future.

Tamworth District

Dean from Tamworth Fishing Tackle reported the Tamworth district is fishing very well, with Keepit and Chaffey well and truly firing in terms of quantity and quality of fish size.

Big silver perch are being caught on lures at Chaffey by casting Jackalls to the edges. Keepit showed what lurks in its depths this week with three cod pushing the magic metre mark all being caught and released by fisherman trolling for Yellowbelly.

Restocking Initiative

Thanks very much to Blackwoods who donated a socket set to help raise funds for native fish fingerlings, and also to the Dubbo RSL Club who donated a $150 voucher that will also be raffled to generate funds to purchase Murray Cod and Golden Perch for the Macquarie River.

Source : Dubbo Daily Liberal

YELLOWBELLY are biting along the Murray River but anglers are being annoyed by Murray cod, which are out of season and must be returned.

Rod Mackenzie reports yellowbelly to 2kg are being caught on worms, shrimp, small yabbies and spinnerbaits.

The hot spot is Wemen, but catches are coming from Pental Island, near Swan Hill, and Belsars Island, near Robinvale.

Redfin are on the bite in the channels between Lake Charm and Kerang Lake.

In the North East, Geoff Lacey reports Pretty Valley Creek and the east Kiewa River are fishing well for brown trout to 450g taking worm and lures.

Mt Beauty Pondage is excellent with many rainbow trout falling for worms under a bubble float and lures.

The Kiewa River, from Mt Beauty to Mongans Bridge, is flowing clear and icy cold, with lots of wild brown trout and rainbow trout in the system.

Many trout to 650g are being caught.

Lake Catani at Mt Buffalo has good numbers of brown trout, and most are being caught on small lures, weighted wet flies and nymphs.

The upper Mitta Mitta River, from Sunnyside to Taylors Crossing, is producing brown and rainbow trout on worms and lures.

The Cobungra River has brown trout taking drifted worms and the Victoria River is holding good numbers of large trout.

Lower Mitta Mitta River near Eskdale has good numbers of brown trout and Snowy Creek continues to fish well with unweighted worms producing trout.

Eildon Pondage has good numbers of rainbow trout, with a brown trout mixed in. They are up to 3.5kg and taking Tassie Devil lures and Powerbait.

In the Western District, Doug Lucas reports that Lake Bullen Merri is producing brown trout to 4.9kg and rainbow trout to 1.5kg.

Trolling orange Lofty lures are working well, as is shore-based fishing with gudgeon under a bubble float.

In the southwest estuaries, the Curdies River has sparked up with bream to 47cm caught on shrimp and vibe lures.

Gellibrand River has estuary perch to 38cm taking hard bodied lures and a few bream downstream of the bridge.

At Aire River bream to 42cm are being caught on shrimp near the Ford River inflow.

Salmon are running again along many surf beaches including Princetown, Peterborough and the Aire, with most fish 700 to 900g.

Apollo Bay also has smaller salmon albeit smaller with most fish to 700g.

The harbour is producing King George whiting to 700g and silver trevally.

Anglers venturing down to cape Otway are catching gummy sharks to 12kg.

Brett Torossi, at Billfisher Tackle, reports Port Phillip Bay snapper are still slow with a smattering of reports of reds to 6kg coming from Carrum, Clifton Springs and Pt Richards.

Most snapper are being caught on pilchard and squid.

Calamari squid to 2kg are taking jigs in the Lonsdale Bight and off Portsea.

In Western Port, King George whiting to 38cm are taking squid in Coronet Bay.

Warneet jetty is producing snook on lures. Anglers fishing off Lysaughts have caught snapper to 7.4kg.

Snapper to 8kg are being caught in the Western Entrance, with smaller snapper to 2kg biting off Tankerton, Hastings and Long Reef.

Ian Page at Lake Tyers in the Gippsland Lakes reports the water has been running hot for bream to about 38cm on hard bodied lures and local prawn.

Flathead numbers are building and most of those being caught are up to 40cm and taking soft plastic lures.

At Bemm River, the lake is producing quality bream to 45cm and luderick to 2kg on sandworms and local prawn.

Source : Weekly Times Now

Murraymonsters forums have slowly been revamped and a great new updated look. If your after good discussion, great tips, and a supportive cod loving community look no further.
Be sure to say hi if you join!

Dubbo Tidy Towns is inviting all community members to a river clean-up on September 21 and is seeking volunteers to help clean-up between the town’s two weirs both in boats and on foot.

Volunteers are asked to meet at 9am at the boat ramp beside Lyons Park in West Dubbo, with everyone invited to a barbecue lunch when the clean-up finishes at midday.

For details and early registration please phone Mal Monson on 0429 391 639.

o o o

The DPI has reported that the prayers of the 1.1 million NSW residents who are recreational fishers have been answered, with the State Government announcing that they will introduce plastic fishing licences.

The days of dropping your $30 a year paper license in the drink, along with your line, are almost over.

“Fishers told us that they wanted a more durable system so we have responded to that with the new card, which we envisage will be very popular,” primary industries minister Ian McDonald, said.

Plastic licences will now be issued for one and three-year licences which are purchased online, over the phone, or at touch agent who utilises a Touch Eftpos terminal.

Unfortunately there is no capacity to offer a plastic licence for fishing licences purchased manually from agents and fisheries offices.

The DPI will continue to maintain the paper licence system for agents and fisheries offices who do not have the Touch Eftpos facilities. For more information go to www.dpi.nsw.gov.au

Darling River:

Matt Woodbridge dropped Dubbo Catches a report from a recent trip 60kms out the back of Bourke to the Darling River.

Fishing with six mates, the boys managed to catch about 20 yellowbelly, with the biggest being a fighting fit 7lb brute that ate a bunch of worms floated down the side of a log.

Matt reported that Stimulate Fish Attracting Gel applied to the baits worked well, and seemed to catch more fish than the unscented baits.

For his great report and photos Matt picks up a selection of Jaz Lures including a variety of spinner baits, lipless crank baits and hard bodies lures.

Eucumbene and Jindabyne:

Excellent reports have come in from Jindabyne over the last week. The trolling has been very good, and spinning from the shore or boat with plastics and minnows has been deadly on the fish as well.

Local high-country angler Andy Butt and his son Matt from Sydney had an interesting day at the lake on the weekend.

They spent the day spinning with various lures and had plenty of follows from some good browns, but struggled to get a bite.

As it turned out Andy hooked and landed a very impressive 65cm, 2.6kg brown, with the fish taking a Vibrax Minnow Spin lure. Andy was a little unsure for a while whether the new rod he purchased was a dud, obviously now it is considered to be a very lucky rod.

Thanks to the team at The Alpine Angler for their report.

Botany Bay on the coast:

Tailor are about in small groups and Scotty Lyons from South Sydney fishing charters has scored well along the third runway of late, spinning with small metal slices, with most fish up about 1kg and proving to fight well on light tackle.

Trevally are the prime species all through the cooler months and spots like Trevally Alley, The Drums and the Third Runway are all spots that will produce.

Trevally are a schooling fish and move about from spot-to-spot so anglers will need to find them. Fishing in deep water near structures and fishing light is the key. Burley is needed to bring them on the bite, with nippers, prawns and pilchards as bait working well.

Kingies are on the bite of late, so a day out targeting them could produce good results for visiting anglers.

Jigging and live baiting are both scoring well and this should continue right up to the start of December.

Small slimy mackerel are working well as live bait and 200 gram Spanyid jigs in white, pink and gold are also scoring the odd hook-up.

Thanks to Scotty Lyons of South Sydney fishing charters for his report.

Source: Dubbo Daily Liberal