Fishing

WITH less than four weeks remaining until all the action of the 2015 Clancy Corporation Lake Moondarra Fishing Classic commences, organiser Mount Isa Fish Stocking Group is kicking things into high gear. Requiring hundreds of hours in volunteer man power to turn what is famously crowned as Queensland’s richest freshwater fishing event into a reality, the organising committee is busily preparing everything …

The hot name on the Australian lure market at the moment is Zerek Innovation. Brought into Australia by Wilson Fishing, Zerek is a market leader in many fishing applications. New products such as the Zerek Skittish Dog, Fish Trap, Surger and Tango Shad were recently released at the Australian Fishing Trade Association show on the Gold Coast. In the coming months we …

ONCE again I turn my focus to actual events on the water around Hervey Bay. It was the middle of winter and it was a regular day to begin with. Sure enough, they were quick to put one in my hands. I motored away and put us over a small school of large fish and the reaction was instantaneous. My client’s jig rod …

TARGETED compliance patrols in high-risk areas of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area have detected a four-fold increase in recreational fishing offences over three years. In 2014-15, 538 recreational fishing offences were reported, representing the highest annual number recorded. The incidences were among 1161 reported breaches of Commonwealth and state laws in the World Heritage Area for the year, covering …

A RECREATIONAL fisher was fined $7000 for multiple fishery offences in Townsville Magistrates Court recently. “His Esky also contained two tilapia. “While no nets were located, the barramundi and tilapia displayed signs around the gills consistent with being netted.” All nets (except landing nets, scoop or dip nets and dilly nets) are illegal to use in Queensland fresh waters. “Barramundi have …

MINISTER for Agriculture and Water Resources Barnaby Joyce today announced a boost of more than $930,000 for small seafood exporters under the Government’s Package Assisting Small Exporters program. The program continues to deliver on the Government’s election commitment to support small exporters through its $15 million four year program. “This funding gives practical help to drive real export returns for our nation’s …

IF you’re taking the kids fishing this 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 because they are in place to ensure the sustainability of our fisheries for future generations of Queensland fishers. “Taking the kids fishing is a wonderful …

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture Richard Colbeck recently launched the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation’s five-year Research, Development and Extension plan for Australia’s fishing and aquaculture industries. Senator Colbeck said the 2015–2020 Strategic Plan represents an evolution in the way the FRDC invests in research, outlines a new focus based on three key national priorities, and empowers stakeholders. “The …

Some people think you need to travel many kilometres offshore to catch big snapper, but that is not always the case. My PB 88cm snapper was caught in Moreton Bay in just 3.5m of water. Fishing the bay is a lot harder than fishing the offshore reefs. Fishing the correct tides, moon phases, with fresh baits and the right technique …