Kingfish now - bluefin coming
THE bad weather of last week briefly abated on Friday and Saturday allowing boats to again fish offshore.
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Boat crews who persisted were rewarded with some very nice sized kingfish up to 7kg. Bonito were also in good numbers and were caught trolling early around Montague Island and on live baits throughout the day.
Offshore observations of the last few days suggest that the marlin run for 2015 has almost ended. Although this is disappointing for some, it means that quite a few offshore boat owners and crew can now start on the long list of jobs at home.
The excellent bluefin tuna reports from western Victoria have resulted in a flurry of accommodation bookings being made for visiting crews from Victoria, Canberra and Sydney.
After last year’s great local run of 60-100kg bluefin, Sydney anglers are due to come down in good numbers this year, and hopefully for years to come. Bermagui is sure to benefit from this expanding local fishery.
It’s starting to sound repetitive, but the excellent fishing in Wagonga Inlet has again continued this week, with great catches of flathead and tailor, as well as good catches of bream, whiting and salmon.
There has been plenty of talk about the Super Trawler ‘Geelong Star’ which has arrived in Australia this month.
This vessel is a mid-water trawler and will be targeting fish in the Small Pelagic Fishery which is managed by the Commonwealth Government. The main target species are sardines, and a few species of small mackerels (including our beloved ’slimies’), these fish are all Step #2 in the food chain.
The ‘Geelong Star’ is over 95mts long, and one of the largest fishing boats to legally enter waters near the Australian mainland.
For full details on how this mega fishing boat operates, check out the AFMA (Australian Fisheries) website for details.
Here you will find out all the details so that you can make an informed decision on this controversial issue.
Fishing Joke of the Week: A man walks into a fish shop carrying a kingfish under his arm. ‘Do you make fishcakes?’ he asks. ‘Of course’ says the fishmonger. ‘Oh good,’ says the man. ‘It’s his birthday’.
Fishing Soap Box: Congratulations to the Managers of Eurobodalla Shire Council for closing the ocean boat ramp at Narooma during the tuna season. Great planning – NOT
- John Moore
Bass and EP closure
FISHERS are reminded a closure on taking Australian bass and estuary perch from all rivers and estuaries in NSW will be in place from May 1, for a four-month period.
Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Senior Inland Fisheries Manager, Cameron Westaway, said the annual zero bag limit period has been extended to protect early migrating species.
“The zero bag limit will be in place from May to August, to protect these important native fish species while they spawn,” Mr Westaway said.
“Both Australian bass and estuary perch form schools and migrate to parts of estuaries with the correct salinity to trigger spawning.
“These great native sports fish can be vulnerable to fishing when they are in large groups – hence the reason for the closure.”
Mr Westaway said the zero bag limit does not apply to Australian bass and estuary perch caught in freshwater impoundments and dams, as they do not breed in these areas.
Stocked reshwater impoundments, including Brogo Dam near Bega, remain open.
DPI fisheries officers will be patrolling bass waters during the zero bag limit period to advise anglers on the fishing rules and enforce size and bag limits for other species.
Trout spawning closures
ANGLERS are reminded that the annual trout spawning season commences in the region from Friday, May 1.
Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Senior Inland Fisheries Manager, Cameron Westaway, said the annual trout spawning season fishing rules apply to the Thredbo River and its tributaries and the Eucumbene River and its tributaries (upstream of the Lake Eucumbene dam wall and including Providence Portal).
“Restrictions are in place to provide protection for early spawning brown trout,” Mr Westaway said.
“The restrictions also provide fishers with the opportunity to catch a trophy sized trout – in particular the Eucumbene River has provided excellent fishing for large brown trout over the past few years.”
A minimum size limit of 50cm, daily bag limit of one and possession limit of two trout will apply to these rivers from May 1 to the end of the Queen’s Birthday long weekend on Monday, June 8.
“Anglers can use one attended rod and line with up to two hooks with artificial flies or lures and up to three treble hooks attached to any lure is permitted, while any fishing gear rigged for bait fishing is prohibited,” Mr Westaway said.
Port committee critical of Apex ramp design
THE Narooma Port Committee and its chairman Phillip Creagh are critical of the proposed design of the Apex Park boat ramp.
Council engineers have told him the pontoon wharf will be designed and certified by a structural engineer in accordance with current applicable Australian Standards, and for existing tidal flows and 1 in 100 year storm events likely to be experienced at this site.
But Mr Creagh said it was his understanding that no current flow studies had been done at the Apex Park ramp site between February 2013 and February 2015.
He said he wanted appropriate facts and figures before making a submission to State Member Andrew Constance.
His said preferred solution for the boating groups involved a two-section (12m) pontoon wharf extending from the eastern side of the ramp, with an approximate 90 degree angle and two or three pontoons extending to the current fishing pontoon which is due to be replaced.
“This is an elegant solution as we believe the impact on the sea grass is less than that of council’s preferred solution and design process would be easier,” he said,
“We are quite prepared to vigorously argue the sea grass case with NSW Fisheries and Batemans Marine Park.
“Surely a re-design process would be a bit like re-organizing deck chairs, rather than designing the Sydney Harbour Bridge again!”
Geelong Star trawler nets kill dolphins, seals
THE Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation (ARFF) has expressed concerns about the media release by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) announcing the deaths of four dolphins and two seals as a consequence of industrial scale fishing in the small pelagic fishery by the Geelong Star on its first fishing trip.
This is a concerning and unacceptable number of mortalities given the short time the vessel has been fishing.
ARFF urge AFMA to take immediate action to ensure this issue is addressed.
ARFF are also concerned about the statement in the press release by AFMA in relation to reporting of the deaths “Unfortunately, from time to time both commercial and recreational fishers will accidentally harm marine mammals and other protected species while seeking to put seafood on our tables.”
ARFF and its members are disappointed by this statement. To put recreational fishing in the same category as industrial scale commercial fishing in relation to threats to marine mammals reflects a complete misunderstanding of recreational fishing in Australia.
In addition, it is ARFF’s opinion that the statement was misleading in the context of threats to marine mammals and completely unnecessary, adding nothing to the intent of the AFMA press release.
ARFF has asked AFMA for a retraction of the statement.
ARFF is currently in discussions with the Small Pelagic Fisheries Industry Association (SPFIA), AFMA and the Government on the current commercial fishing activities in the small pelagic fishery.
The current situation of these mortalities and the statements by AFMA has placed the future of these discussions underconsiderable pressure.
The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) meanwhile says it has strengthened marine mammal protection in the Small Pelagic Fishery (SPF), putting in place additional measures in the vessel management plan (VMP) for all mid-water trawl vessels operating in the fishery.
Vessel management plans specify the detailed operational requirements to minimise risks to the marine environment and all SPF mid-water trawl vessels are required to have an AFMA approved VMP before commencing fishing.
AFMA has been advised that the Geelong Star, the fishing vessel nominated by Seafish Tasmania Ltd to fish in the SPF, is currently completing its first trip in the fishery.