Could the West coast region be split in 3
I've asked this question before and still can't really get my head around it. Kalbarri to Augusta is around 880kms. Why can't this be split in 3? The argument is you are only moving the problem to the next zone! We've seen by the take up of the petition that a huge majority of fishers are pretty bloody lazy! 18,000 signatures out of a few hundred thousand fishers in the zone. Do we think those people are gonna be motivated enough to travel a couple of hundred kilometres to go fishing for a few fish? Yes there will be weekends away planned (could be better for tourism) but there won't be the ease of just driving to the local boat ramps. Wouldn't mind hearing some thoughts on why it can't happen? I assume it's harder to manage more zones but will it make it easier for better research and samples?
Oldbull
Posts: 175
Date Joined: 21/09/15
Yes
I agree that splitting could work. Lancelin to Kalbarri, Lancelin to Melros, Melros to Augusta. There are plenty of fish in the 2 outer zones. Metro is the concern.
Rob H
Posts: 5796
Date Joined: 18/01/12
Its not actually according
Its not actually according to them, its Midwest.
The reason splitting was not favoured is effort shifting.
It would probably only be effective if you designated that people who live in one zone cannot fish in another, or seperate RFBL's for each zone to limit effort shifting.
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
Oldbull
Posts: 175
Date Joined: 21/09/15
Effort shifting
would only be a portion. How many anglers from inner or eastern suburbs would drag their boats up to Lancelin or the Cut for just a days fishing. Sure there would be increases at holiday times but lack of accomodation would reduce that. Caravan parks at places like Kalbarri or Port Gregory need to be booked a year in advance for school holidays and Easter even now. Also if worried about the Lancelin - Kalbarri stocks then make that region 500mm for snapper. Never could understand why it was just 410mm
Rob H
Posts: 5796
Date Joined: 18/01/12
Making size limit bigger
Making size limit bigger means more returned to the water=greater mortality@25-50%.
Especially over this period while the fish average size increases
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
Moondog
Posts: 131
Date Joined: 25/06/18
That's interesting isn't it.
That's interesting isn't it. Vaguely remember reading the commercial boats are working the Midwest.
Different licenses for different zones could work. Could use the money to pay for a few more officers in each zone! Say another 4 per zone with 2 working at a time and put them on some decent coin with a fifo style roster. Say 8:6 and that gives them every second week off.
Woodsy65
Posts: 163
Date Joined: 21/05/15
Meateater
If anyone is familar with the Netflix/Youtube show Meateater, i recall on one episode Steve Rinella was explaining the system in place for where he was fishing. (cant remember where in USA/Alaska?)
Anyway, from what I remember, the way it worked was that locals/Residents of the area/zone were allowed to catch and keep whatever the limit was. Non locals/residents could still fish there, however their bag limit was lower than the locals/residents.
Could be a way of having smaller zones or 3 zones in the Westcoast and still allowing effort shifting but at a reduced rate. Could also help the local tackle/tourist operators surive.
davewillo
Posts: 2398
Date Joined: 08/09/16
Effort shifting would
Effort shifting would probably not be that great as Oldbull mentioned above. I used to go to Jurien and fish with my brother-in-law but I'd stay for the weekend, not just for a day. He occasionally still goes up but not for a day, it's always a longer trip and mybe two or three times a year.
PGFC member and lure tragic
Brock O
Posts: 3224
Date Joined: 11/01/08
Pretty sure the Recfish and
Pretty sure the Recfish and fisheries reports went against this idea if my memory is right..
Dont want to shift the effort to other regions
Expensive to Implement
Too hard to educate fishermen also..
Moondog
Posts: 131
Date Joined: 25/06/18
I'm no expert but effort
I'm no expert but effort shifting would be bugger all. Rec fishers can't even sign a petition I'm pretty sure they won't be driving massive kilometres for fish.
Brock O
Posts: 3224
Date Joined: 11/01/08
Agree with you 100%...very
Agree with you 100%...very limited.
Myself I visit Two Rocks 3 times a year max...only when having a sickie mid week when the weather suits and the ramps quite. Tow the boat to Leeman once a year for a 3 day period.
That's the bit that doesn't make sense with the research also...massive amounts of coast that doesn't get touched at all.
Edit...makes me wild, these scientist research clowns are fk idiot's the lot them.
Jackfrost80
Posts: 8143
Date Joined: 07/05/12
I reckon plenty of folk
I reckon plenty of folk including myself will start planning more weekenders away at towns in the mid-west which would be extremely positive for local tourism in those towns but not so much for fish stocks.
Officially off the Pies bandwagon
Moondog
Posts: 131
Date Joined: 25/06/18
Yeah there will be a lot of
Yeah there will be a lot of people planning weekenders and I'll be one of them. Like oldbull was saying most places are booked a year in advance for the right times of year to be fishing/holidays and they are still be affected by the weather. The hardcore fishos may be able to drop everything in a couple of days and head away if the weather is good but majority of people won't be able to.
I can't get my head around the small business owners and fishers in places like Augusta being punished because the Midwest is overfished. The coast line in the region is pretty much the same length as a drive from Melbourne to Sydney. It's a massive region and to say brocks mates (research scientists) have been able to accurately survey a large majority of the area is horseshit. Brock is spot on about massive amounts of coast not getting touched. There'd be a few of these scientists that are legitimate in there work but the rest are fucking clowns lead by the largest clown of all Don punch.
I tried really hard to not get political but this ban is all politics.
Bodgy 79
Posts: 286
Date Joined: 04/08/22
I'm hearing you there
I'm hearing you there moondog! We went out of walpole on Saturday September 10 beaut weather(was our first weather window for about 7 weeks and been shit weather since then and no chance of getting out) we traveled about 20 km along the coast,grabed some feeds and back in doing about 50 km all up (seeing only one other boat while on the water)There were 7 boats in total out in the ocean that day and all of us scattered from ramme head to broke inlet,that's roughly 50 -60 km of coastline so my thoughts are these areas don't get too much effort/pressure put on them.Yes it does get a lot more effort at different times but generally fuck all. My point is much coastline like this almost manages itself by either the weather or there remoteness and the government don't need to throw a blanket over the lot.