Fishing Rules

In an era of high-tech electronics that have revolutionised the world of angling, you could be forgiven for thinking a barrow-load of money is required for success. Young anglers on a tight budget trying to make mortgage payments could be depressed just by looking at the prices of live view sonar units and GPS-linked electric outboard motors. Yet, the most …

Following consultation with the community, Maritime Safety Queensland has extended the six-knot speed limit for vessels at Double Island Point. Due to the shifting sandbanks to the immediate west of Double Island Point, the vessel speed limit zone has been extended to ensure a safer lagoon area for all waterway users. The six-knot vessel speed limit zone now extends from …

The new zoning plan came into effect May 21, 2024. Located in Queensland’s Wide Bay-Burnett region, the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service manages the Great Sandy Marine Park. The management arrangements for this marine park are detailed in its zoning plan. The zoning plan identifies four different zones within the marine park, what kind of activities can be undertaken in …

A free resource for landholders, community groups, recreational fishers and biosecurity organisations, FeralFishScan is a purpose-built community website and app for recording feral fish sightings and evidence. Since European settlement, the deliberate or accidental introduction of non-native fish into Australian freshwater ecosystems has resulted in the establishment of many populations of pest fish species. These species are broadly considered as …

Fishers who support research by reporting tagged mud crabs in Queensland can get their claws on free escape vents. The reports will help researchers track the spawning migration of female mud crabs and learn more about the species. Department of Agriculture and Fisheries principal scientist Dr Julie Robins said the research would help ensure Queensland mud crab fisheries remained sustainable. …

Do you know the biosecurity rules for redclaw in your area? We have 135 known species of crayfish in Australia. Many of these are endangered and at risk from crayfish plague, caused by people spreading species like redclaw beyond their natural range. You can follow good biosecurity practices for redclaw by: Do not return species to the water outside their …

It’s been a few years since I wrote about fishing etiquette in this publication, but with an increasing amount of frustration on and around the water from the selfish actions of others, I thought it was time for a refresher and update on this topic. I understand many readers will be doing the right thing – however a few reminders …

Crabbing is one of Queenslander’s favourite pastimes, but do you know the rules? There are restrictions in place to protect mud, blue swimmer, spanner and three-spotted crabs from overcollection. Here’s a rundown: Mud crab: – Size limit: 15cm minimum – Possession limit: 7 per person/14 per boat (with 2 or more people on board) – Female mud crabs must be …

With popular fishing locations seeing a recent increase in fishing activity, in some cases unfortunately that means more litter and lost fishing gear. Fishing related litter and debris can have a big impact on wildlife that interact with it. Birds, turtles, seals, platypus and other aquatic animals can be accidentally injured by discarded fishing tackle, including fishing line, hooks and …

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has publicly released the National Carp Control Plan and nine technical papers. The NCCP represents comprehensive scientific research outcomes, investigating the technical feasibility of using cyprinid herpesvirus 3 as a biological control agent for carp. One of the most wide-ranging assessments of a biological control strategy for aquatic environments ever undertaken globally, the …