Fishing

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 …

FOLLOWING a state-wide telephone conference last week, a network of concerned recreational fishing activists issued the following statement: The Sustainable Fisheries Strategy reforms Queensland Labor PROMISED us to improve our fish stocks appear to have been canned! Reforms that would have seen fish stock level ultimately raised to those already existing in the Net Free Zones were supposed to be …

MORE than 6251 marine invertebrates have been seized, 337 offences detected and $63,000 in fines issued in an operation designed to target illegal shellfish collection in the Sydney metropolitan region. The issuing of fines has completed Operation Turbo Reef, an initiative of NSW Department of Primary Industries Fisheries Compliance Unit. Acting Director Fisheries Compliance Brett Andrew said the operation is …

WELL the drought’s over on the Northern Rivers! Twenty-four inches of drought-breaking rain in four days will do that. All those fish that were above Mullumbimby in the Brunswick River aren’t there anymore. We really needed a good flush of the system like this to get things moving both in the river and offshore. Offshore was stagnant, with cold water …

A PROJECT to boost the world-class fishing experience in southeast Queensland waters has been expanded with the installation of 15 new fish-attracting devices off the coast in early March. Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said the FAD program involved floating buoys tethered offshore to attract fish. “We’re creating a world-class fishing experience by investing $1 million …

WHILE penning this piece relating to fishing the western watershed streams during the grip of one of the most prolonged droughts in living memory, just for contrast, rain is falling across the region concerned. Here too in the southeastern corner of the sunshine state we’ve been blessed with liquid sunshine, albeit in lesser amounts than those of us in rural …

East coast black jewfish fishery CLOSED The annual catch limit for the east coast has been reached. Black jewfish is a no-take species on the east coast for all fishers for the rest of the 2020 calendar year. Penalties apply to any fisher caught taking black jewfish on the east coast during this closure. Penalties of up to $400 000 or 3 years imprisonment apply to any …

WE had a reasonable run of weather for the start of the year and then it turned and we’ve copped heaps of rain and subsequent dirty water. We’ve had fewer days on the water and unfortunately my dud back has decided to play up again. For some reason it seems to do it at this time of year. One recent …

SUMMER is quickly coming to a close, but it certainly doesn’t feel like it. With consistent rain and lighter wind around central Queensland, fishos have been waiting for the small weather windows between the rain to get out and fish the blue water. These weather windows have become increasingly uncommon in recent years, so it has been a welcome change. …

A REDLANDS Coast political team is pushing for additional artificial reefs including an inshore reef off Wellington Point. Member for Oodgeroo Dr Mark Robinson and LNP candidate for Redlands Henry Pike are determined to see more reefs delivered, starting with the Point. “I will keep fighting for an inshore reef off Wellington Point and aim to deliver it should the …