Shades Fishing News

A group of new volunteers completed Fishcare Volunteer training at Campbell Town this weekend, maintaining the number of volunteers at around 100.

The Minister for Primary Industries and Water, David Llewellyn, extended a welcome to the new volunteers and thanked them for their commitment to Tasmania’s fisheries.

“Fishcare Tasmania’s volunteer program has been running for ten years with enthusiastic volunteers donating their time to raise awareness of responsible fishing practices,” Mr Llewellyn said.

“The program has been a huge success, with volunteers spending more than 11,000 hours providing information and advice on recreational fishing at more than 3,000 events and activities.

“The volunteers provide fishing advice at local fishing spots, attend community events with the Fishcare trailer and kid’s fishing pool, teach kids to fish at Take a Kid Fishing Days, assist with fisheries research, speak to community or schools groups and run fishing clinics throughout Tasmania.”

Mr Llewellyn said the volunteers are a valuable link between the fishing public and the Department of Primary Industries and Water, and are experts on providing practical advice on how to fish responsibly.

“The volunteers play an essential role in educating fishers and their work makes a real difference in improving the recreational fishing experience and helping make sure that there are fish for the future.

“I would encourage all Tasmanians who see a Fishcare Volunteer (in their blue and gold uniforms), to get their fishing questions answered or just get to know your local volunteer,” Mr Llewellyn said.

The Fishcare Volunteers program is funded by Fishwise, with revenue raised from the sale of recreational sea fishing licences used to fund programs that support recreational fishing activities.

The volunteers are trained to deal with practical matters that they may encounter during their Fishcare activities, including fishing regulations, fish biology, fish identification and conflict resolution.

More information on the Fishcare Volunteers program is available on the Department’s website at: www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/fishcare

Source : Tasmania DPI

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

BY MICHAEL CROOKS

BRIAN Davis has been fishing at Arthurs Lake for more than 40 years and, in his opinion, the current level of the water is as low as he has ever seen it.

“I just came back from a week there and the low level of the water was exceptionally noticeable,” Mr Davis said.

The prime trout fishing venue risks being split into two separate bodies of water if it doesn’t receive sufficient rainfall soon.

Recently taken satellite pictures of the area show parts of the lake previously underwater are now dry land.

One strip of this terra firma will completely bisect the lake if the water level drops only one more metre.

This would return Arthurs Lake to its status from the 1960s as two separate bodies of water known as Blue Lake and Sand Lake.

Mr Davis, from Burnie, said the water level hadn’t affected the fishing, which, by all accounts, had been of a high standard this season.

While acknowledging the weather had played a part in Arthurs Lake’s recession, Mr Davis said the body of water was undoubtedly under plenty of stress.

“I think rainfall is the bottom line, although the demand for hydro is also a factor,” he said.

“There is a lot of strain on Arthurs Lake to supplement the supply of Great Lake and also for the water used in farming.

“It’s a shame that it’s in its current situation.”

Statistics show Arthurs Lake is at its lowest recorded level in nearly 20 years.

Hydro Tasmania has confirmed the worrying situation, saying it has been caused by several factors.

Evaporation and a lack of rainfall are largely to blame, although other uses are also contributing.

Water is pumped out of Arthurs Lake to supply Lake River irrigation and is transferred to Great Lake to support power generation at Poatina.

A spokesperson for Hydro Tasmania said it was important to recognise the many challenges it faced striving to find the right balance with all users during the prolonged drought.

Arthurs Lake’s low levels have also been making boating access to the water particularly tough, with many ramps having to be shut.

The Inland Fisheries Service (IFS), Hydro Tasmania and Marine and Safety have recently invested $10,000 to create a low-level launching area for boats at Pumphouse Bay, along with establishing other low-level access points around the lake.

Although long-term weather forecasts aren’t showing any signs of significant rain, everyone concerned about the lake would be encouraged that its level has risen by 15cm in the last six weeks.

Source: The Advocate

A processing plant in the State’s south is being carefully monitored and subject to some abalone movement restrictions following the discovery on its premises of abalone showing signs consistent with the disease Abalone Viral Ganglioneuritis (AVG).

Tasmania’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Rod Andrewartha, said that examination of the abalone tissue showed signs consistent with AVG. Further work is being undertaken to confirm the diagnosis.

This investigation was triggered by the processor reporting suspect signs in abalone as part of Tasmania’s abalone disease surveillance program.

AVG is a potentially serious disease of abalone, with very high mortality rates observed in some areas. AVG does not affect humans.

Tasmania’s wild abalone fishery is the biggest in the world, with around 25% of the world annual harvest. It also supports a very active recreational fishery, involving around 12,500 people.

AVG has been spreading slowly through waters off the Victorian coast and the Tasmanian government has put a range of measures in place to minimise the risk of this disease reaching our wild abalone fisheries.

Samples of the diseased tissue have been sent from Tasmania to the Australian Animal Health Laboratory at Geelong for further analysis.

Dr Andrewartha said that the big concern currently was whether the disease is present in any of the State’s wild fisheries.

“ Our current activities are aimed at trying to determine the location and extent of any disease in the wild so we can develop appropriate control measures.

“So far we only have histological evidence of disease in two abalone and despite intensive monitoring over recent months we have seen no signs of the disease in the wild.

“We have begun traceback of the abalone at the processing plant to determine the point of origin. The processing plant and the various people who have supplied fish to that plant recently are co-operating fully in this.

“Using this information, we are targeting our surveillance and sampling from the wild fisheries to see if there any signs of this disease out there. Samples have already been taken today by divers from the Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute from an area of interest with no obvious signs of disease observed. “

A special website -www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/abalonedisease - will provide regular updates on the investigation.

People associated with either commercial or recreational abalone fishing are urged to check it frequently for the latest on the situation.

Source: Tasmanian DPI

An iconic fishing jetty at Georges Bay has a new lease on life following a partnership between the State Government and the St Helens community.

Kirwin’s Jetty has been rebuilt and opened today to coincide with the St Helens Rotary Club’s Family Fun Fishing Day.

Labor Member for Lyons Healther Butler paid tribute to those involved in the project.

“The State Government provided $5000 for the work but it would not have happened without the generosity of the community and commitment from local volunteers,” Ms Butler said.

“It had fallen into a state of disrepair and would have been lost without the initiative of the Rotary club which set about raising funds to rebuild the jetty.”

Ms Butler said the project was completed in just three weeks

“After taking over the jetty, the Rotary club raised $7000 and completed the work in record time.”

“Kirwin’s jetty is one of the most popular fishing spots in Georges Bay and is enjoyed by both locals and tourists alike.”

“It is a tremendous community asset and its great to see people fishing off the jetty again,” Ms Butler said.

Source: Tasmanian Government Media Release

GREAT salmon were caught in and around the Leven River last weekend, mainly on silver lures and bait.

These fish were down deeper than usual, so a heavier lure, sinker or jighead is the ticket, especially when the current is running.

The rain earlier this week may have flushed these fish out for a few days, but they have been super consistent over the last few months, and are very likely to return.

Give it a few days to settle and the fresh to flush out and the Leven would be well worth a look.

Good salmon are also being caught at Marrawah, and have also been running in the Inglis on and off.

With more and more fishos switching to braided line, especially for winter casting and bottom fishing, we are getting plenty of queries about this style of line.

Braided line is super low diameter, so it improves casting distance, and also has very little stretch, so you can feel everything happening at the end of the line.

The low diameter also allows you to fish significantly heavier line if required - it is possible to spin cast with lines of up to 50lb!

Following are a few tips that will allow you to enjoy all the significant benefits of braid and minimise the frustrations.

Not all reels are suitable for running braid, plastic spools are a definite problem as the line will cut the spool.

A `worm drive’ oscillation system on your reel is a big advantage as it lays the braid on the spool much more smoothly and evenly, this minimises looping and tangles when casting.

When loading spools with braid, run a couple of layers of monofilament on first and then attach the braid - otherwise the braid will slip on the spool under load.

As a rule, fill your spool only to about 80 per cent full.

Buy the best braid you can afford, as better lines have coatings or additives to stiffen the braid slightly, again minimising tangles.

Keep an eye on the line, especially during the first couple of winds after a cast when there is less pressure on.

If you see a loop on the spool, don’t keep fishing - run the line out behind the boat or along the shore.

If fishing very light jigheads or lures, especially into the wind, looping is more likely.

In these conditions, every 10th cast or so I turn around and fire a long cast with the wind or with the current.

This straightens the line out and allows you to wind back onto the spool with pressure against the line.

Finally, I recommend investing in a good pair of braid scissors - these make cutting this line much easier and stand up to the braid, unlike many pliers and nippers which very quickly go blunt.

If you would like more info regarding braid, knots to use, leaders to tie on, or anything else, feel free to call in.

Tight lines.

Source: The Advocate Tasmania

The Director of Inland Fisheries, John Diggle, today attended the Trout Weekend at Liawenee, Great Lake, along with anglers and their families, to celebrate the wild Tassie brown trout, the icon of Tasmania’s world-class trout fishery.

“The Inland Fisheries Service Trout Weekend, which is held at Liawenee in May each year, is a very popular social occasion for both anglers and their beloved fish,” Mr Diggle said.

“It’s based on the annual spawning migration of the famous wild Tasmanian brown trout, which was introduced to the state over 140 years ago,” he said.

“Hundreds of adult fish swim upstream in the Liawenee Canal from Great Lake at this time of the year to lay their eggs.

“These magnificent fish are offspring of the original trout shipped as eggs from England in 1864,” said Mr Diggle.

“Service staff trap the fish and harvest the eggs over the weekend. The eggs are taken to the Service’s hatchery at New Norfolk and the Salmon Ponds and grown into young fish.

“During the following season, when the fish have matured to ‘fingerling’ or ‘handling’ stage and have a good chance of survival, they are released into selected waters throughout the state.

“This harvesting and restocking of wild brown trout has been carried out in Tasmania for many years and the angling community has always been closely involved.

“The Weekend has become a family tradition in the highlands and amongst anglers, and over recent years there’s been significant public and tourist interest in the event.

“The good turn-out of people today marks another successful year for the Service and shows just how much Tasmanians love their trout fishing,” said Mr Diggle.

Mr Diggle went on to thank the angling clubs, the local highland community and the fishing tackle businesses for their ongoing support to the Service and this weekend’s event.

Source: Tasmanian Inland Fisheries (Tas.gov.au Media Site)

TASMANIANS have the chance to land a Fishwise Community Grant, with more than $158,000 available for projects that improve the management of recreational sea fisheries and community understanding of fishing issues. “Fishing is one of Tasmania’s most popular recreational activities with one in three Tasmanians involved in recreational fishing every year,” said Minister for Primary Industries and Water, David Llewellyn.

“Through Fishwise community grants, individuals and community groups can receive funding for projects that will protect and promote recreational fishing activities for future generations.

“I urge anyone with an idea on how to improve recreational fishing in their community to submit an expression of interest for a Fishwise Community Grant by 6 June.

“If the expression of interest is found suitable the applicant will be invited to provide a full project proposal for further assessment.”

Mr Llewellyn said that since 1996 more than $1.2 million in Fishwise community grants had been provided for recreational fishing projects throughout Tasmania.

“Fishwise community grants are funded through the sale of recreational sea fishing licences with funds used for activities that benefit recreational fishers,” he said.

Previously funded projects include the Fishcare volunteers program; educational programs on responsible fishing practices, events such as ‘take a kid fishing’ days, recreational fishing infrastructure and surveys and research on recreational catch.

More details, including expressions of interest forms, are available online at www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/fishwise or by contacting the grants office on 6233 7042 or by email at fishwise [AT] dpiw [DOT] tas [DOT] gov [DOT] au

Source : EasternShoreSun.com.au

The fishing community is being warned against taking specially marked lobsters which are part of a new research project at Elephant Rock near St Helens.

Two thousand large lobsters are being released at the newly created research area to test their effectiveness in controlling the destructive long spined sea urchin.

The urchins overgraze on seaweeds and algae, leaving the sea floor barren and threatening other marine species like abalone.

The Professor of Zoology at the University of Tasmania Craig Johnson says the lobsters have specially marked tails and it is illegal to catch them.

“They’re clearly and distinctively different from any of the other wild lobsters that you’ll pull up from the ocean,” Professor Johnson said.

“And even if these lobsters are caught outside the closed area they have to be put back straight away. It’s illegal to possess them under any circumstances,” he said.

The Elephant Rock area will be closed to any commercial or recreational fishing by diving, or by the use of rock lobster pots and rings, for up to three years.

Source: ABC News

Tasmanians have the chance to land a Fishwise Community Grant, with more than $158,000 available for projects that improve the management of recreational sea fisheries and community understanding of fishing issues, the Minister for Primary Industries and Water, David Llewellyn, announced today.

“Fishing is one of Tasmania’s most popular recreational activities with one in three Tasmanians involved in recreational fishing every year,” Mr Llewellyn said.

“Through Fishwise Community Grants, individuals and community groups can receive funding for projects that will protect and promote recreational fishing activities for future generations.

“I urge anyone with an idea on how to improve recreational fishing in their community to submit an expression of interest for a Fishwise Community Grant by 6 June.

“If the expression of interest is found suitable the applicant will be invited to provide a full project proposal for further assessment.”

Mr Llewellyn said that since 1996 more than $1.2 million in Fishwise Community Grants has been provided for recreational fishing projects throughout Tasmania.

“Fishwise Community Grants are funded through the sale of recreational sea fishing licences with funds used for activities that benefit recreational fishers,” he said.

Previously funded projects include the Fishcare Volunteers program; educational programs on responsible fishing practices; events such as Take a Kid Fishing days; recreational fishing infrastructure; and surveys and research on recreational catch.

More details, including expressions of interest forms, are available online at www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/fishwise or by contacting the grants office on 6233 7042 or by email at fishwise@dpiw.tas.gov.au