Bush 'n Beach Fishing Magazine Location reports & tips for fishing, boating, camping, kayaking, 4WDing in Queensland and Northern NSW
CORAL reef fin fish will be off-limits from Wednesday, November 15 in the second of two annual closures that protect these fish during spawning season.
Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol district manager Robert Russell said the closure would start immediately after midnight at the beginning of November 15 and end immediately before midnight at the end of November 19.
“October and November have been found to be the most effective months for closures to protect coral reef fin fish,” Mr Russell said. “The coral reef fin fish closure dates are based on moon phases, which is when coral trout and many other reef species aggregate to spawn. The closure dates change slightly each year depending on the new moon phases. The closure period is vital to allowing stocks to replenish to ensure there are healthy fish stocks for current and future generations of Queensland fishers.”
Mr Russell said fishers caught doing the wrong thing during the coral reef fin fish closure risk on-the-spot fines of $504 for recreational fishers and $1009 for commercial fishers and a maximum penalty in excess of $121,000.
“The Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol will be conducting regular patrols during the closures and will be reminding fishers of the closures,” he said. The coral reef fin fish closures are in place from the northern tip of Cape York to Bundaberg in the south (the southern boundary is at latitude 24º50’S). The eastern boundary of the closure is similar to the eastern boundary of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
Mr Russell said the closure only applies to coral reef fin fish, so people will still be able to enjoy fishing for a wide range of other fish during the closure. A reef fish web guide is available online at www.fisheries.qld.gov.au and the Qld Fishing smartphone app also includes species images to help fishers identify fish listed as coral reef fin fish. For more information on Queensland’s closed fishing seasons, visit www.fisheries.qld.gov.au, call 13 25 23 or download the free ‘Qld Fishing’ app from Apple and Google app stores. Follow Fisheries Queensland on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@FisheriesQld).
