A RECREATIONAL fisher in Hervey Bay has been fined $5000 and ordered to pay restitution after admitting to interfering with commercial crab pots and illegally selling mud crabs. Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said the man was caught after Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol officers began investigating reports of people interfering with commercial crab apparatus in …

THE Easter four-day weekend is typically a wonderful time for boating across Australia but 2020 is far from a typical year, with the Boating Industry Association urging people to please stay home this Easter. Fires, floods and now a pandemic have made this an extraordinary and challenging time. The BIA supports government countermeasures to protect Australians from the full impact …

TWO Central Queensland commercial fishers caught with female mud crabs have been fined $26,000 in the Rockhampton Magistrates Court. Member for Rockhampton Barry O’Rourke said the court’s penalty sent a message to all fishers that the illegal take of Queensland fisheries resources will not be tolerated. “By blatantly disregarding Queensland’s fisheries laws and taking protected species such as female mud …

Unfortunately, due to the current COVID-19 situation our Fishing Report for this week is based around information rather than what’s biting at the moment. FISHING AND ESSENTIAL BOAT USE TO CONTINUE Effective Tuesday 31 March 2020 Queenslanders can still take their boats out – but only if they are catching fish for their family to eat or “essential” travel. The …

Camping Closures – As part of the Queensland Governments response to COVID-19 (coronavirus) and to help keep Queenslanders safe, a decision has been made to close ALL camping areas within Queensland national parks, state forests and recreation areas as of 26 March 2020 applies until 30 June 2020 or unless otherwise advised. Four-wheel drive trails, mountain bike trails, walking tracks …

The Redland City Local Disaster Management Group  and Redland City Council are encouraging people to reconsider their need for non-essential travel to the Redlands Coast islands. This includes North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah), Coochiemudlo Island (Goochie mudlo), and the four Southern Moreton Bay islands of Russell (Canaipa), Lamb (Ngudooroo), Macleay (Jencoomercha) and Karragarra. The request comes as Chair of the Redland …

Gold Coast Region – Hi Everyone, hope you’ve all had a great week, the weather gods greeted us with some wild winds last weekend and early this week on the Gold and Tweed Coasts. The good news is the weekend is looking great, light winds and sunshine is the forecast which means all systems go for angler’s keen to hit …

Well what a week of weather we have had here in the Noosa region! March has certainly remained consistent with weather patterns similar to years previous. Offshore Offshore has been on hold due to winds in the 20 knot range and the driving rains that have stayed. On a positive note offshore has had a break from boats and anglers …

Coronavirus changes tropical rock lobster fishery area – Temporary expansion of tropical rock lobster fishery area Due to the impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the tropical rock lobster fishery area has been temporarily expanded south to 18°S (just north of Cardwell) for three months – this temporary expansion will be in place until, and including, 9 June 2020. This …

BOAT owners are urged to keep their boat’s hull clean with regular maintenance to minimise any further spread of an exotic marine pest known as white colonial sea squirt, after it was found in Queensland. Biosecurity Queensland general manager John Robertson said the white colonial sea squirt (didemnum perlucidum) was an invasive species originating from the Caribbean. “Over the past …