Fishing Rules

GOLD Coast residents can expect to see commercial fishing boats close to and on the shoreline until the end of August as part of the annual mullet season. Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol district manager Brett Depper said commercial fishing for mullet is permitted in tidal waters within 400m of land. “Commercial fishing along ocean beaches for mullet occurs from April …

A MACKAY dory operator has received a $6000 fine after being caught fishing for coral trout in a green zone in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The Mackay Magistrates’ Court convicted the dory operator last week after he was detected fishing offshore of Mackay in the Swain Reefs area by aerial surveillance. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s …

A BRISBANE recreational fisher with a history of fisheries offences has been convicted and fined $3000 after undersized fish were found in a large catch on the Gold Coast. A second Brisbane man who was also charged in relation to the matter was fined $2000 in the Southport Magistrates’ Court. Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol district manager Rob McDonald said …

Thinking of making some quick cash by selling your fish or crabs on Facebook? Think again. You must have a licence to sell fish in Queensland. The taking of fish for sale other than by licensed fishers is prohibited. A Toowoomba man advertised two mud crabs his mate caught for sale on Facebook and later sold them. It cost him …

A HERVEY Bay fisher has been fined $2500 for unlawfully possessing a significant number of regulated commercial fishing nets. Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol field officer Neil Conway said during the execution of a search warrant on the fisher’s house, seven regulated nets were found hidden in wine barrels. “This is a particularly high number of illegal nets with the …

WITH so much to do at Lake Somerset and surrounds, sometimes the hardest thing can be deciding what to do. Here are five top activities to undertake while visiting the picturesque lake, which is about an hour’s drive northwest of Brisbane. 1. Fishing You can’t mention Lake Somerset and not think of fishing. The dam has a reputation for holding some …

A QUEENSLAND Boating and Fisheries Patrol operation across central Queensland targeting a family syndicate profiting from unlawful fishing activities resulted in successful prosecutions. QBFP district manager Greg Bowness said three men from one family had been prosecuted as a result of the fisheries operation, resulting in fines of $28,500 and the forfeiture of a large number of seized items. “This is …

IT’S been a big month for Fisheries Queensland, with four separate investigations into illegal fishing activity resulting in successful court prosecutions in Ayr, Maryborough and Gladstone, including seizure of a vessel. Ayr A recreational fisher appeared in the Ayr Magistrates’ Court and was convicted and fined. $10,000 and had his vessel, motor and trailer forfeited to the Crown for offences including …

A RECREATIONAL fisher has been ordered to pay $2000 by the Pine Rivers Magistrates Court for being in possession of quantities of undersized fish. Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol field officer Imraan Esat said the fisher was apprehended at Dohles Rocks boat ramp on the Pine River. “QBFP officers approached the vessel with the intention of conducting a routine inspection,” Mr …

I don’t mind fishing this location with the kids because often they’ll be preoccupied with building sand castles anyway. It’s also great because I don’t have to worry about dingoes or four-wheel-drives on the beach. When land-based fishing you sometimes really have to put in the hard yards and try several areas, but it’s a great way to while away the …