Fishing Rules

CORAL reef fin fish will be off-limits from this Friday, October 28, as the first of two annual fishing closures that protect these fish during spawning season commences. Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol district officer Tony Loader said the two five-day fishing closures coincided with the new moon when key coral reef fish species aggregate to spawn. “October and November …

FISHERS are being reminded that barramundi will be off limits in the Gulf of Carpentaria from midday 7 October 2016 until midday 1 February 2017. Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol (QBFP) acting district manager Tony Loader said the closure was in place to protect barramundi stock during their vulnerable spawning season. “Barramundi typically aggregate in one area to spawn, making …

A BRISBANE recreational fisher who failed to measure his catch of 37 fish, which were all undersize, has been fined $3000 in the Brisbane Magistrates’ Court. Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol district manager Brett Depper said officers inspected the man’s boat at the Colmslie boat ramp during a patrol in September 2015. “Thirty-seven undersize regulated fish were found in an …

IF you’re taking the kids fishing these school holidays, don’t forget to check the rules before dropping a line in. Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol district manager Rob McDonald said it’s important everyone sticks to the rules, which are in place to ensure sustainable fisheries for future generations of Queensland fishers. “Taking the kids fishing is a wonderful bonding experience and …

A COLLABORATIVE research project is under way to quantify the amount of discards in the Queensland trawl fishery from 1988 to 2014. The project involving the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and the CSIRO is co-funded by the Federal Government’s Fisheries Research and Development Corporation. Project leader and DAF scientist Matthew Campbell said data had been collected as part of …

QUEENSLAND Boating and Fisheries Patrol officers found 1763 pipis when they intercepted five recreational fishers in a four-wheel-drive vehicle on North Stradbroke Island. With a possession limit of 50 pipis per person in Queensland, the fishers were legally allowed to collect only 250. Two of the recreational fishers from Brisbane were charged for taking excess pipis and each fined $1200 in …

IN Queensland, Mary River cod and Murray cod closed season runs from September 1, 2016 to November 30, 2016. Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol officer Coby Walker said the annual closure during spawning season is an important measure to allow the species to reproduce so there are viable stocks of these fish for future generations to enjoy. “For Mary River …

The annual closed season for Australian bass in Queensland tidal waters ends this week. Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol manager Ian Fricke said Australian bass had been off limits in tidal waterways from 1 June to 31 August to protect the species during its breeding cycle. “Fishers can return to their favourite tidal waterways to catch Australian bass from Thursday, 1 …

SEVERAL recreational fishers have been found in breach of fishing regulations along the Namoi, Castlereagh and Barwon rivers in northwest NSW. NSW Department of Primary Industries acting director of Fisheries Compliance Tony Andrews said a recent compliance operation by Fisheries officers focused on the Narrabri, Wee Waa, Coonamble, Walgett, Collarenebri, Dubbo, Tamworth and Inverell regions after rain improved fishing conditions …