Appalled and need to vent
So i took the dinghy out today to have my first attempt at catching some bream on lures. I launched from the memorial park boat ramp, unfortunately i didnt catch anything but i really still dont know what im doing however thats not what im upset about. On return to the boat ramp at about 7:30 i see a couple of guys using a throw net, as i get closer and put the dinghy on the shore to get ready to bring it in i see they have a number of very small bream tangled in the net. They were taking their sweet ass time returning them and some were pretty lifeless by the time they got around to chucking them back in. I was under the impression that nets in the river are illegal? Regardless i couldnt call fishwatch quick enough but had to watch as they threw it out again and repeated.
Now i was more than happy to confront them, but there was an entire family of them there with about 5 guys, so my old man was very much against the idea so i settled with the call to fishwatch. As i write this now im still fuming, whilst fisheries try as best as they can i seriously dont think theres enough presence out there. I've been out a few times this festive season through the river and in mandurah and not seen them once.
Sorry that this is a whinge but when it seems as though your the only one doing the right thing it gets very frustrating!!
Oh and from what one of them was saying to the other i dont think this was a one off so if anyone sees this sort of crap plz call fishwatch. Hopefully they get what they deserve!!
Swan River Fisher
Posts: 877
Date Joined: 03/05/11
shit how shocking is that. i
shit how shocking is that. i havent seen many bream in the river for a while and now i know why
Adam Gallash
Posts: 15644
Date Joined: 29/11/05
yep
Not good. But at the same time I just watched Coast watch that NZ fisheries show were they got 3 guys with 115 pink snapper, its a catch 22, you can have officers patrolling the river catching a couple of guys with a throw net doing the wrong thing or you could have them out trying to catch the guys that are raping and pillaging. Would be nice to have more officers regardless.
As for not having seen bream in the river, you must be missing out river fisher, seems a fair few of the guys have been getting into good blackies lately.
Site Admin - Just ask if you need assistance
chris raff
Posts: 3257
Date Joined: 09/02/10
115 snapper and the boat was confiscated
obviously deliberate in their action and were hit hard ...the other 3 guys with 50 mussels over , seemed clueless on the limit and scored a $500 fine each...a expensive lesson ....good interesting public awareness program , loved the naiad fisheries had....
sstevee it goes on all the time in one form or another best do what you did ring fishwatch and a car rego if poss...IMO fisheries should be spending their new found extra revenue on more public awareness here eg signs at boatramps jetties etc just as a reminder of penalties and also a few 30 sec tv ads just to get the message to masses ...even visiting schools etc would be beneficial
“Intelligence is like a four-wheel drive. It only allows you to get stuck in more remote places.”
Cjsurf
Posts: 134
Date Joined: 23/08/11
It's not about punishment it's EDUCATION
They threw all the snapper out dead which is horrible for a fishing system and a waste , ppl need to be educated about fishing when they purchase a fishing license and skippers not just go online and 2 seconds later you have a fishing license!
buzzkill
Posts: 9
Date Joined: 25/09/11
Always remember most
Always remember most fishermen either have a knife on them or handy and a number of those have been poked into people over the years. It's fisheries job to enforce the law however if we can report breaches it's in our best interests and helps fisheries out to a degree. I feel your pain but confronting these guys isn't never a good idea.
A-SALT-WEAPON
Posts: 103
Date Joined: 07/07/10
Just got back
just got back from Jurien went out fishing for four days of fishing and got checked by fisheries officers three times they were thick up there you had every chance of getting caught if you were to do anything illigal
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
And Cervantes too, they're
And Cervantes too, they're keeping a good eye on that area.
roberta
Posts: 2773
Date Joined: 08/07/08
Good to see
Fisheries out and about, as they are based in Jurien, have also seen the big Fisheries boat in Leeman, checking pro's/amatuers pots.
All we can do is ring fishwatch and hope the boys in green get there in time.
Ginger Tablets Rock
Michael Yoni
Posts: 603
Date Joined: 02/01/11
Bloody disguisting. Most
Bloody disguisting.
Most mobiles come with reasonable cameras and video capabilities, both should be used. when contacting fishwatch tell them you also have photograghic and videographic evidence. Especially from the santurary of your dinghy you will be some distance from them.
(on a side issue, I wonder how many bogus calls they would get)
Lastchance
Posts: 1273
Date Joined: 02/02/09
As long as you dont post the
As long as you dont post the pics on an internet forum aftwards like Tailor Marc did, hey?
However, your idea is a good one and one that should be utilised more often.
hummeldoddy
Posts: 48
Date Joined: 27/10/11
I was fishing at the narrows
I was fishing at the narrows bridge a few nights back and there was a guy with a 5 pronged spear walking in the river spearing anything that was within range.
He was killing undersize crabs and also did not seem to care that he was spearing female crabs.
He looked like a real nutter so i packed up and went home in disgust.
can anyone tell me the number of whom i need to call to report this in the future?
sstevee
Posts: 472
Date Joined: 15/11/11
Some fair points being made,
Some fair points being made, i understand the poor guys cant be everywhere but i definitely agree with Chris, there has to be some effort made in making the rules blatantly obvious. Good to see they're out there tho
As far as the 115 snapper go you could only assume that with that many they'd have to have been onselling and deserved to loose their boat
The number for fishwatch is 1800 815 507 according to the net its a 24hr service too
TGMitchell
Posts: 221
Date Joined: 24/11/09
MAF (NZ) seems to have a lot
MAF (NZ) seems to have a lot more presence the Fisheries does here. Fish Stocks are highly regarded by fishers and the General Public - more officers, more information, more ads, harsher penalties.
I'm not usually one for too many rules but protecting fish stocks is vital. If I see someone taking a fish a couple of cm under and they've not nothing else in their bucket, I'm probably going to turn a blind eye. If I see people raping the spot for all its worth then I turn nark...
I'm the same on the road - someone going a bit fast... no bother, obviously drunk or stoned and weaving all over the road - I'm on to the cops.
I keep hearing about pirates ripping off craypots - why aren't Fisheries more onto that one?
The Black Baron
Adam Gallash
Posts: 15644
Date Joined: 29/11/05
Why
"I keep hearing about pirates ripping off craypots - why aren't Fisheries more onto that one?"
Because its a bloody big Ocean out there! I'm sure fisheries are right onto it, the problem is being in the right place at the right time and then catching the minority that do it. Add up those percentages and the chances of catching them is slim, which is why you don't hear about it often (also because there isn't much publicity of fisheries prosecutions unless its a big sting) There was one a few years ago where they nabbed a guy off Fremantle heads (I think it was) but apart from that you dont hear of it much.
As for the snapper, they confiscated the boat and had 200-300 hours of community service as punishment.
Site Admin - Just ask if you need assistance
Nauti Buoy
Posts: 595
Date Joined: 20/04/09
Fines
The 'Western Fisheries' magazine is the only place i have seen a list of people that have recieved fines. It would be good if it was published monthly in the newspaper to further raise awareness.
sea-kem
Posts: 14983
Date Joined: 30/11/09
I remember when they used to
I remember when they used to send out the Western Fisheries mag free of charge then decided to change that and make you pay for it. It should be sent out to everyone with a fishing or boat license to at least partially educate the clowns who flout the system. Surely what we are paying in license fees these days would cover it.
Love the West!
sstevee
Posts: 472
Date Joined: 15/11/11
I agree with you sea-kem.I
I agree with you sea-kem.
I dont understand why we dont at least get notices of current bans/closures and general stuff to be aware of. Even if they threw in some PR stuff about what initiatives their running. Surely this kind of thing would get them noticed a bit more which could only be a good thing?!?
TGMitchell
Posts: 221
Date Joined: 24/11/09
ATO does it
Anyone who does BAS statements throws away the little 'GST updates' they send you with it.
Cops raise money from speeding and use (someof it) for publicity campaigns
Simple formula really - write fines - raise money - raise awareness
The Black Baron
chookc
Posts: 442
Date Joined: 07/01/10
Why not a monthly or bi monthy email..
Would take someone an hour every two months to put together a little email to all registered boat owners re updates and upcoming closures or season opening new rule changes and a list or story on a recent seizure fine incident. Would just refresh everyones memory of things....
carnarvonite
Posts: 8669
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Public notices
Any changes to the rules and river closures etc are put in the public notices in the West Australian newspaper anything up to a fortnight before they are brought in, you just have to keep an eye on them.
All fines for poaching, pinching pots, undersized etc should be published in the paper but we oly see the odd one because no one has brought it to the editors attention that we are intersted in that these dickheads get what they deserve.
roberta
Posts: 2773
Date Joined: 08/07/08
So true carnarvonite
and from what I was told, we are supposed to buy the paper every day to read all new laws, by-laws, announcements from government etc, apparently its a very old law.
Ginger Tablets Rock
TGMitchell
Posts: 221
Date Joined: 24/11/09
I don't read newspapers -
I don't read newspapers - they're a waste of money - if they wanna tell me something post it or email it.
The Black Baron