Shades Fishing News

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

THERE is an awful swirl in the pit of Tony Wood’s stomach, as violent as the grey sea below him, when the Westpac Rescue Helicopter winches a body out of the water.

The angle of the neck delivers the verdict; the head is snapped back grotesquely and the eyes are glazed.

“It can be prevented so easily,” said Mr Wood, the helicopter’s chief crewman.

He and the Westpac service are on a mission to get more people to wear life jackets, following the deaths of eight fishermen off Sydney in the past 12 months.

“There is nothing more disheartening, discouraging … when instead of a live, smiling body coming up that wire, all we have is dead eyes … all

for the sake of a life preserver,” he said.

“We have had … eight bodies pulled from the water, all of which I am sure, if [they] had been wearing life jackets, or flotation devices, [they] would be here today with their families.”

About 80 per cent of rock fishing fatalities in the state were within 30 kilometres of Sydney - a stretch of coastline that delivers great fishing and great peril in equal measure. Yet a life jacket costs just $80, the equivalent of three days’ bait.

Rock fishing is listed by the NSW Government as the most dangerous sport in the country. But unlike other extreme sports, such as boxing, there is no licence requirement to wear specific clothing.

When the National Marine Safety Committee launched a discussion paper in 2006 on the mandatory use of life jackets while fishing, it received a barrage of letters against the idea.

The Recreational Fishing Alliance of NSW’s submission acknowledged that although they did save lives, “there will be locations and times when it is not practical to have a life jacket on”.

The president of the South Sydney Amateur Fishing Association, Stan Konstantaras, agrees. Instead of enforcing mandatory life jackets, the association has been running educational programs - 90 per cent of them aimed at people of non-English speaking backgrounds - to raise standards.

“Enforcement is never going to work,” he said. “What would you do? Is someone going to go around to the rocks and fine these guys to enforce it?

“From an occupational health and safety point of view, it would be very difficult to get workers to have to go down to the rocks and patrol, and we barely have enough Fisheries officers as it is.”

He said the educational programs were already paying dividends: “Last month I saw five Koreans on the northern beaches, they all had life jackets on - that would be unthinkable a few years ago,” he said.

But that has done little to assuage Mr Wood’s fears that the Westpac Helicopter is being used as a retrieval service for dead fisherman, rather than a rescue service for those clinging to life.

“It’s soul-destroying … for the guys who actually go down and out and pick you up out of the water,” he said.

Source: Sydney Morning Herald

Recreational abalone divers are being reminded of the importance of maintaining good biosecurity practices by keeping their gear and boat clean and disinfected between trips.

The Department of Primary Industries and Water previously posted all recreational abalone licence holders a copy of the brochure Help protect Tasmania from Abalone Viral Ganglioneuritis.

The brochure and information in the current 2007-08 Recreational Sea Fishing Guide advises recreational fishers on how to identify the signs of Abalone Viral Ganglioneuritis and what they can do to prevent the spread of the disease.

The General Manager of Biosecurity and Product Integrity, Alex Schaap, advised fishers to:

· RETAIN all abalone waste, including shells and offal and dispose of it in land-based waste disposal such as your household rubbish. It is illegal shuck abalone at sea or use abalone viscera as fishing bait.

· CLEAN and DRY all boats, fishing and diving equipment. This includes catch bags, gloves, knives, measuring devices, wetsuits, buoyancy vests, masks, regulators, tanks, boats and people who have come into contact with abalone. Allow equipment to dry in the sun.

· REPORT any signs to the Disease Watch Hotline 1800 675 888 (24-hours).

“These simple practices can help ensure any outbreak of the disease in wild abalone stocks is not spread to new locations and that any outbreaks can be successfully contained,” Mr Schaap said.

“While I am sure recreational dive fishers have been following these recommendations, which are in everyone’s interests, it is timely to remind fishers of the important role they can play in protecting our abalone stocks.”

Source : NSW DPI

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

THOUSANDS of dead fish floating in the Myall Lakes were killed by a disease thriving in the estuary’s cold water and low salinity, tests show.

Bream and silver biddy carcasses from Bombah Broadwater were tested last week by Department of Primary Industry scientists, who found them riddled with the fungal infection Saprolegniosis, or winter disease.

“In winter disease, fungus can sometimes be seen around the mouth and gills, and appears as a brown deposit a bit like a five o’clock shadow,” a department spokesperson said.

The fish were widely thought to have red spot disease, which was found near Tea Gardens earlier this year, but the department said the Myall outbreak is different.

Fish veterinarian Matt Landof said it was unusual for estuarine fish to contract winter disease. The fungus choking the fish can be found even in healthy waterways, but it can be devastating.

“It’s a common water fungus, but if the water gets cold very quickly it affects fishes’ immunity. Their skin and gills become vulnerable to it,” Dr Landof said.

“Water with low salinity also allows the fungus to thrive.”

Fishing has not been banned in the lakes, but the department warned that fish with tell-tale brown residue around the mouth and gills should not be eaten. Dr Landof agreed.

“If an adult fish with the disease was cooked and eaten there would be no impact [on the human], but I wouldn’t recommend eating a fish that shows signs of illness.”

A Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) spokesperson said experts were satisfied enough water passes through the Myall River mouth to keep it clean, but two Great Lakes councillors said the current outbreak is a symptom of mismanagement.

“Comments by the DECC that there’s sufficient flow to allow flushing are contrary to current reports and council’s own submission to dredge the opening,” Cr Len Roberts said.

Some fishermen shrugged off the outbreak, which they say is fairly common.

“It’s been going on for years,” lakes-based commercial fisherman Graeme Hockings told the Myall Coast Nota.

“It happens about three or four years apart, sometimes more, usually when the water gets cold.”

Cr Carol McCaskie, standing for re-election on the same ticket as Cr Roberts, said any infection is “a problem”.

“Irrespective of the frequency of diseased fish and whether it is cyclical or not, the point that there are diseased fish. The fact it may have happened before is a warning something is wrong, not that we must live with it,” she said.

“It’s like having a toothache from time to time and not doing anything about it. Eventually the tooth dies. We don’t want a dead Myall River, so let’s fix the problem now.”

Dr Landof said winter disease usually kills in conjunction with another pollutant.

“I’d be cautious of assuming the fungus is the primary cause [of the deaths]. There are often other toxins at work.”

Oyster harvesting at Tea Gardens has been suspended because of the river’s low salinity, measured at eight parts per thousand last week. It needs to reach 18 per thousand for harvesting to resume.

Source : Great Lakes Advocate

The first barbecue weekend for the year is at Wyangla Dam at Grabine, to coincide with the Grabine Classic - which is worth entering, as you may be lucky enough to win the boat, motor and trailer.

The Soldiers Club Fishing Club will have members going, so if you’re a member of the fishing club there is a notice on our notice board where you can place your names. If you need directions please phone Allan on 6226 5258 and he will guide you to the right location, or follow the YSCFC signs. Hope to see you there giving the fishing club that runs this classic all the support they deserve.

Our annual trip to Eucumbene runs on the weekend of September 20-21 at Old Adaminaby. We’re staying at Rainbow Pines Tourist Park in the bungalows. These have been booked, so if you’re going please write your names on the list which is on our notice board at the Soldiers Club. Hope to see you there.

Just a quick reminder on the Eucumbene barbecue - if you’re going, would you please ring Dianne at work on 62261015 or at home on 62265258. This very weekend last year was a great two days enjoyed by all who attended.

Source: Yass Tribune

Some crazy Narooma Sporting and Services Fishing Club members fished over the weekend with a lot of effort put in but not a great return.

Mother nature threw as some bad weather on Saturday with sea’s over the 7m mark putting most off going out the bar, but a few brave soles fished the beaches or what’s left of them and jagged a salmon and tailor.

Needless to say next month there are heaps of jackpots up for grabs with the womans, mystery boat, highest points offshore, spin of the wheel, most species woman and highest points RBE, all with jackpots for next month.

Winners for this month were Gary Landells the overall winner (yes that’s not a miss print) Andy Mathews, Dave Clark and Noel O’Hehir and the juniors was won by Renae Butchard.

The dads were then treated to a fantastic feed of ham chicken and salads by the ladies, as it was father’s day and a big thank you to Karen Clark for the food served up.

So next month the trophy prize will be a tailor and next comp will be on the long weekend then after the fishing comp we can all sit back and watch the NRL grand final at 5pm and remember that those in the NRL tipping comp a bus will be running to take us home at the end of the grand final.

As we go to press the board is looking at a fresh water comp at Brogo so keep an eye on the notice board, so all is fairly quite on the fishing scene apart from plenty of snapper at Potato Point and a few mowies thrown in for good measure but the warm water is pouring down from the north and in a month or so it will be on again

The committee will be meeting at 6.30pm on Wednesday night at the Bowlo and with the change in leadership in the State Goverment in the last week a few political issues might be raised.

Tight Lines

Fishfingers

Source : Narooma News

The August mini catch up outing saw a dozen fisher people brave the elements and wet some bait.

Men’s winner was Jimmy Ashby 2.48kg including a nice tailor of 1.4kg. Ladies winner was Vicki 3

Leather Jackets plus a Bream and the Junior winner was Mitch Mac with 12.7 kg of Grouper Drummer.

Blue water was won by Gav Mac with17.96 of Grouper Drummer. A small but enthusiastic gathering at the club on Sunday saw outing captain Shaun award meat trays to Neil, Vicki and the raffle was won by a non fishing, Club member schooners going to Gav and Jimmy.

A story was told to me about a bloke who set up a new trolley to fish off the wall at Harrington.

The maiden trip of the trolley saw it been dragged down the rocks by rampaging Jewfish, much to the horror of the proud owner.

After retrieving a banged up trolley, the owner lost the jewie. Better luck next time or maybe weigh the trolley down with a slab.

Apparently there is going to be an ICAC investigation into the awarding of the meat trays, but our President is doing his best to stall the investigation till he catches a few more. I will keep everyone updated on how this situation unfolds.

Dates to be put on the calendars include:

Glenbawn inter challenge September 19, 20 and 21.

This is the only trophy that we don’t hold at the moment, so a good roll up is needed to fish in this event.

Presentation November 1, at the Bowling Club.

Nelson Bay invitational team event November 7, 8 and 9.

Charity Fishing Event November 22 invitation only, club teams and workers are needed to ensure that this event is a success again.

Until next month, remember Sushi is really only bait waiting for a hook - by Off His Perch.

Source: Gloucester Advocate

The start of the 2008/09 NSW fish stocking program kicked off in August with the release of thousands of juvenile trout into the State’s waterways. More than 188,000 rainbow trout fry have been released into rivers and streams of the New England Tablelands including:

• 84,000 into the Wollomombi River near Wollomombi;
• 42,000 into the Gwydir River near Armidale;
• 76,000 into the Styx River near Ebor, and;
• 12,000 into Oaky River near Ebor.

These are the first major releases of the fish stocking season, which runs from August to May each year. The freshwater stocking program provides huge spin off benefits for regional areas, both in boosting tourism and providing economic opportunities for regional economies. In two years these trout will be mature - that’s great news for anglers.

Source: NSW DPI

Keen fishers located in the Western Region are invited to join the NSW Government’s successful Fishcare Volunteer Program. The two-day training session is planned for the weekend of the 22nd and 23rd November 2008 at Bathurst. For more information about the program or if you would like to apply to become a Fishcare volunteer in inland NSW, contact Brett Smith on (02) 6332 5314 or 0447 219 618.

Source: NSW DPI