Fisho lucky to escape a fine!

Five Snapper and three Tarwhine were seized from a fishers bucket last week from Clarke’s Point Reserve in Sydney Harbour. The fisher was unaware of the prescribed sizes for the fish and intended to use the fish for bait. Snapper have a prescribed size of 30cm and Tarwhine have a prescribed size of 20cm. All fish were returned to water alive.

Sydney Harbour is home to around 580 species of fish, making it one of the most bio-diverse estuaries for fish in the world. The Harbour is also a nursery for juvenile fish of many species, which are the basis for our recreational and commercial fishery outside the harbour. Sydney Harbour’s nursery environment is created by the variety of habitats that exist within in such as seagrass, mangroves, and natural intertidal areas.

Sydney Harbour (Port Jackson) and surrounding waterway’s provide a wide range of fishing opportunities from beach or jetty fishing to the more adventurous rock and boat fishing. DPI Fisheries Officers routinely patrol Sydney Harbour waterways, jetties, boat ramps and foreshores to advise anglers about responsible fishing practices and to enforce compliance with NSW fishing regulations.

The Sydney Harbour Recreational Fishing Guide is available on the DPI Website – www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing. Suspected illegal fishing activity can be reported through the Fishers Watch phone line on1800 043 536 or online via DPI website at http://fal.cn/3gJWh.