Day and night, in the air and on the water — Great Barrier Reef Marine Park compliance patrols will be out in force during the September school holidays and the October long weekend, particularly at known illegal fishing hotspots. Reef authorities continue to call on recreational fishers to follow the law when visiting the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, …

A man has been caught in possession of 98 illegal yabby nets containing 106kg of yabbies in the Warrego River in Western NSW last month. During a routine patrol, NSW DPI Fisheries Officers in the North West of the State conducted surveillance on a number of Opera House Yabby Traps set in the waters of the Warrego river, near Bourke. …

Fishing in stocked impoundments There are 63 impoundments (dams and weirs) in Queensland that require a Stocked Impoundment Permit Scheme (SIPS) permit to fish with a line. The impoundments are stocked with native fish specifically for recreational fishing. The scheme provides a sustainable fishing option that reduces the fishing pressure on wild fish stocks. Before you go fishing check the interactive …

A new seasonal campaign to crack down on people fishing without a freshwater permit in Queensland’s stocked impoundments is underway. Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol District Manager North Queensland Glenn Shiels said fishers can expect to see fisheries officers on patrol at any stocked impoundment, at any time. freshwater permit “It’s important that everyone does the right thing to ensure …

Researchers at the Australian Institute of Marine Science have developed a dipstick test that can detect crown-of-thorns starfish (CoTS) on coral reefs by using the same technology as home pregnancy tests. The dipstick, which is designed to be used in the field, measures specific DNA that CoTS release into the seawater. The rapid test can detect very low numbers of the coral-eating …

Two women allegedly caught in possession of thousands of oysters illegally retrieved from waters in Georges River Sydney are facing numerous prosecution charges arising from the apprehension. During a patrol in June this year NSW DPI Fisheries Officers observed two people behaving in a manner consistent with intertidal invertebrate collection on the Georges River, which along with many other waterways …

Spring has landed with thump and the sun has let us all know it’s going to be a hot one ahead. With temperatures on the rise it won’t be long until we are all chasing pelagic monsters and hooking the big one! Offshore had a great week post full moon with some cracking fish landed for our snapper comp. For …

Firstly, we hope all the Dad’s out there were spoilt rotten and had a fantastic Father’s Day last weekend.  Unfortunately, the weather forecast for the Bundaberg area for this coming weekend isn’t the best, which will restrict most of the fishing action back into the local rivers and impoundments.  Remember to always check the latest forecast before going to throw …

Hi Everyone, hope you have all had a good week, the weather has started to warm up this week on the Tweed and Gold Coast along with the water temp. September will see a transition of seasons giving everyone a great variety of species to target both inshore and offshore. Looks like a bit of rain on the way for …

Sussan Ley says conditions of export licence for shark fins and other products have not been met! Environment minister Sussan Ley has moved to revoke the export of shark fins and other seafood products from a Queensland government fishery over inaction on reforms to protect threatened species. Ley has written to Queensland’s fisheries minister, Mark Furner, saying the state had …