A WHOPPING 144 unattended and abandoned crab pots have been seized in the Hinchinbrook Channel during a three-day operation by Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol. QBFP district officer Rob Ibell said abandoned fishing gear was a growing environmental issue, with numbers being recovered on the rise. “Some of the pots found had been reported stolen and were returned to their …

APEX Hunting has introduced a range of comfortable and durable camo clothing from Natural Gear. Natural Gear has its own philosophy when it comes to the design of camo patterns, stating: “Natural Gear is science. It’s not art, so don’t make it look like art.” The camo pattern is a non-manipulated, soft-edged photographic image of natural elements. It has the …

The annual VMR Family Fishing Classic will be held over this weekend at the VMR base at Burnett Heads. This year there is over $50,000 in prizes including two boats to be won. By the number of entry forms we’ve received in store at Tackle World, it looks like there will be a record number of entries. Once again this …

July 18-19, 2015 • FREE ENTRY Dragonfly’s CHIRP DownVision technology also surpasses ordinary imaging sonars with superior deepwater performance to 180m and reliable high-speed bottom tracking. And with its unique all-weather bright display, Dragonfly provides high-fidelity images under blazing sun or driving rain. Anglers looking to step up to enhanced fish identification can choose the 4.3” Dragonfly 4 DVS or …

Exhibition Building, Ipwich Showgrounds – 81 Warwick Rd, Ipswich July 18-19, 9am to 4pm OVER the past few years the Australian Lure Fly & Outdoors Expo has grown from small beginnings in a country hall in Fernvale to be the largest tackle show in the country. In 2014, the lure expo had expanded so much that a move into a much …

CONSTRUCTION of floating walkways at Cleveland at the William St, Cleveland boat ramp has commenced. The project was funded by the former government and is being managed by Redland City Council. Dr Robinson said the former government provided funding of $750,000 for the new boat ramp west of the Cleveland Volunteer Marine Rescue building and two floating pontoon walkways. “The …

A 40 YEAR-old Port Macquarie man has been ordered to forfeit his boat, outboard motor and boat trailer after pleading guilty to possessing a commercial quantity of mud crabs in Port Macquarie Local Court recently. Acting Director Fisheries Compliance Pat Tully said Department of Primary Industries fisheries officers were conducting a surveillance operation of the Hastings River in March when …

Children will create their very own ‘drive in’ at this delightful workshop. Paper plane making will also occur, and a year’s supply of Nestle goodies is up for grabs in the Qantas Paper Plane Competition. Following the action during the day, families are encouraged to come and see the film Paper Planes, an imaginative children’s film about a young Australian …

“Six crab pots – four unmarked and two not marked appropriately – as well as two commercial fishing nets and two non-compliant mesh fishing nets were also found. “An additional commercial fishing net was seized at the Gympie residence.” One fisher was fined $7750 for the shark fins, mud crabs, unmarked pots and illegal nets, and the other two fishers …

COMMERCIAL fishing activity in the Great Sandy Strait and Fraser Island waters will increase during the annual sea mullet run. Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol district manager Greg Bowness said the traditional winter migration of sea mullet provided commercial operators with an important opportunity and netting activity had already escalated. “Seafood wholesalers should have a plentiful supply of fresh local …