Im all for reducing the bag limit as four cat 1 fish is more than enough. Increasing the snapper size is not good, we dont get many big ones and they should go back to breed anyway. Two is ok, plenty of fish there.
Having a ban from oct to jan is a bloody joke!
Dont they think by puting in place a ban that people will hammer those spiecies hard before the ban to make up for it.
Who is going to want to launch there boat and only be able to fish for herring, whiting or skippy?
Do they also not think about how the ban will effect peoples businesses. I reckon the sales on bait and gear will drop off huge during those months.
The ban states no landing of the specific fish, how the hell do you stop that, you dont know what you are going to catch.

It will be hard to remember most of the rules.

www.rockyreefmarine.com.au

From october 1st to january 31 every year from 2010 You cant catch them.......What a load of Bollocks
To all the virgins..............Thanks for nothing!

As always Terry, your (RFW) posts make interest reading!

If I understand the Augusta southern limit, all of this won't affect me - YET!  

Snapper - a 2 limit and size increases are a good thing IMO. 2 pinkies is still a good feed.

Voluntary Log Books to be introduced - don't we have that now? I use the DoF Angler's Log Book - Ocean Edition. Where's the differenc?

Looks like you guys will be heading down this way over summer - IF you can afford the petrol! 

Colin Molloy

(Colin 2 - Co-founding member of the prestigious Colin Club)

Thanks for keeping us informed Terry.
(Colin 1 - Co-founding member of the prestigious Colin Club)

I still think marine parks would be a better way to help restock rather than total bans.

When the bans lifted people will catch what ever they can, a marine park would be safe from fishers forever.

  With so many throw back for so many reasons (limit, size, season), the need for education and correct fish handling and release is now going to be more imperative than ever.

Will the 'abalone factor' transfer to fishing on the first day(s) after the opening of the 'V5 closed season'?

Will those with smaller vessells and lesser freeboard that would pick their days have desire overway caution when the V5 closed season closes?

How inventive will fishos become at concealing V5 catches during the closed season? 

Colin Molloy

(Colin 2 - Co-founding member of the prestigious Colin Club)

we have had alot of mixed emotions on these new rules and regulations and surprising to us most of the dhuie fisherman support the goverment decisions . they also seem to make a point of " it is only 3 months and if we dont accept this then in 2 years time it will become a total bann as the fish will become a protected species" fair call i think and as a retailer and very keen dhuie fisherman my self i have pulled my head around the decisions that have been made and have decided it is for the best. just my opinion any way.
brenz

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

The Tackle shack, for all your fishing needs
huge range of stock to suit any fisherperson.
PH:9248 3800

1) Discussions with fishing clubs to be initiated to discourage public fishing competitions from targeting high risk species. I wondre if they will contact Fishwrecked?

The finfish possession limit to be reduced at the Abrolhos Islands Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Area to 10kg of fillets (or pieces of fish) or one day’s bag limit of whole fish. The possession limit will remain in place for at least two years while a review to assess the option of managing the Abrolhos Islands as a ‘no take away’ area is undertaken.
You would think this is going to have a big affet on charter operators.

(Colin 1 - Co-founding member of the prestigious Colin Club)

eventually putting the ban to 4 months of the yeah is imo a bit of an overkill, thats hitting the peak holiday times for people, alot of kids love to go fishing on school holidays, whats it going to be like when you say no sorry mate we can only catch small fish and no dhuies or anything, look at the whiting grounds out from rockingham, there has been many good dhuies caught from there, and i think we will see alot still caught and alot go back dead,

I store my boat and pay $195 a month, so eventually i will be paying $780 a year just to keep my FISHING boat there when i can't use it for the reason i got it, not fair i think, i agree big time on reduced bag limits but no way on the closed season, thats just totally unfair and its far from going to stop the 5 listed species getting caught.

looks like the sharks of this season are going to get bigger and bigger each year now, soon we might even see some 300 fotters of the coast, all the dead dhuies blackass reds etc floating around out there, they will be loving it

there are 100s of different species in the water that anglers choose to target. the turn over will change for those 3 months but when the season re opens you will make up that lost money any way. i also think that anglers will choose to target other species in those "off months" wich will pick up the money in different areas e.g jigging, squidding and lets not forget the closure time is just right for metro mackie season tuna etc wich will pick up bluewater lure sales , lets focus on the the future not the pressent . i would love to hear a bit of feed back on what you would do if we wiped out the species alltogether ? although you could look on the bright side if we wipe em out we wouldnt need a close season then would we!!!
brenz

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

The Tackle shack, for all your fishing needs
huge range of stock to suit any fisherperson.
PH:9248 3800

i 100% agree that the closure time is very very wrong as it will ruin it for the youth of today . they should move it back a month so it finishes dec 31. but something has to be done.
brenz

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

The Tackle shack, for all your fishing needs
huge range of stock to suit any fisherperson.
PH:9248 3800

Feelings will be running high amongst these issues, now, and a for a very long time.

1) Closed V5 Seasons - I personally agree with Brenz, let's face it, as absolutely unpalatable as this is (will be), governments will go for a solution that is easiest and causes the least political damage, whilst still being seen to be doing something that will apease, to some extent, all (most) stakeholders. Put all that together and the only alternative I see is either total bans (more floaters and conceaments!) or marine parks. Yes, I know, being told 'we can't do something' goes against the grain of the whole Australian ethos.

2) West Coast Bioregion (WCBR), notwithstanding the 'micro' considerations of specific areas (Abhrolis for example), I can't understand why the 'South Coast' bioregion (east of Augusta) has not been targetted in the same way as the sub 26 degree parallel west coat boa region? Surely, the V5 closure season will see a marked influx in fishos heading down outside the WCBR - this in turn will put pressures on fish stocks and fisheries down here. A consistent approach is required otherwise, to some extent, you are just shifting the problem. (Notwithstanding the WCBR benefits).

3) Fishing Clubs - I seem to recall that 225 and 228 initially talked about discouraging fishing comps altogether? (May be wrong). Either way, the sustainment of the comps (popular) with education against C1/V5 captures (presumably via a discouraging points system, et al zero) is a good strategic move.

4) Log Books - as I said, don't we have voluntary (non cat, but species listed) log books now - shouldn't these be made compulsory? DATA DATA DATA!

Colin Molloy

(Colin 2 - Co-founding member of the prestigious Colin Club)

so in other words, after all the submissions, they still wont budge on any aspect? righto, well that was pointless.

i my self have no probs with pullin my quota of dhuies every time but lets think of the less fortunate pple who have been succesfull enough to get 1 ,this is doing far more damage to the retail game than a closure will . when people come to me to go dhuie fishing buy all this wizz bang gear go fish it and come back to tell me they didnt get a fsh they are disshartened and reluctant to go for those species again wich then reflects on us as a retailer. ok so then it is in my best interests to give away a couple of spots to ensure they catch fish , fair enoough then they tell there mates and there for no dhuies for me so it is a loose loose situation for us. so if we support these closures thenmaybe the 3 mile will start firing again and all the other common places will also produce there for making a happy customer and happy retailer.
brenz

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

The Tackle shack, for all your fishing needs
huge range of stock to suit any fisherperson.
PH:9248 3800

5. A seasonal restriction that prohibits the take, landing and possession of the Vulnerable 5 species: dhufish, pink snapper, baldchin groper, breaksea cod and red snapper. The season will run from October 15 to December 25 in 2008, October 15 to January 31 in 2009-2010 and October 1 to January 31 for subsequent years.

well since we can't have in our possession any of the cat 1 fish, looks like some big bbq's at the start of oct this year

what are you worried about any way shizz you cant catch duies to save ya life hahaha:)
brenz

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

The Tackle shack, for all your fishing needs
huge range of stock to suit any fisherperson.
PH:9248 3800

wonder wheter they will rethink it when every weekend during the ban people put up reports like this below

Fished my whiting grounds out from rocko today in 30-40 m, kept 6 nice big kg's, also caught 6 big dhuies, all released , but all floated away to die, i can see where the conservation side of it is going, NOT

this will happen and more than they think

if they supply release weights to the rec anglers then this whole strategy might become more feasable

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

The Tackle shack, for all your fishing needs huge range of stock to suit any fisherperson. PH:9248 3800

was talking to paul and i mentioned that, though would expect the gov would still expect you to pay for them, i believe if they were fair dinkum about conserving, every registered boat owner should be given one free of charge and show they are all for it

thats right how can the government expect fishoes to take this seriously if they can invest a miniture part of tax payes money to help with the rules they have created
brenz

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

The Tackle shack, for all your fishing needs huge range of stock to suit any fisherperson. PH:9248 3800

Surley possesion doesn't mean what's allready in your freezer??? Correct me if i'm wrong but that's bloody ridiculous if thats what it means!!!!

no scott it does not include freezer stock just boat possesion limit .
brenz

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

The Tackle shack, for all your fishing needs huge range of stock to suit any fisherperson. PH:9248 3800

Thats allright then....Well I know that Bunbury needs some time to recoup it's losses.

it maybe a conspiracy,they reakon we wont be able to afford the fuel so bring in the limits.
Fast fish rule!

i couldnt agree more with you about the pros it is100% bullsh!t that they can still fish whilst the rrecreational angler cant . but you got to remember this is politics the highest bidder will always win and whilst the pros are paying huge money to the goverment to fish there is nothing we can do. they are thinking of there pockets not anything else but whist the pros are fishing this is the only way to preserve our stocks. you are also right that it shouldnt reflect on us if they cant find fish but it does ... welcome to retail!
brenz

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

The Tackle shack, for all your fishing needs
huge range of stock to suit any fisherperson.
PH:9248 3800

outa curiosity does any 1 dissagree with the tailor bag limits?
brenz

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

The Tackle shack, for all your fishing needs huge range of stock to suit any fisherperson. PH:9248 3800

what a joke the ban is so much overkill. i dont disagree with the reuction of bag limits or size increase but come on puting a ban on the fish for three months will see people going out and getting bag loads of other fish (will thye become banned too) John Ford whats going on in your head. as the paper said the other day its between 45and 55 bucks a kilo for snapper. im not going to pay that that is why i go fishing, plus the enjoyment. grrrr D$%ks in parliment need a good kick in the butt

(just my opinion and im angry as)

fish hard or go home just as well i didnt sell my barra boat gona need it

'looks like the sharks of this season are going to get bigger and bigger each year now, soon we might even see some 300 fotters of the coast, all the dead dhuies blackass reds etc floating around out there, they will be loving it'

why will there be so many dead fish?

i dont go fishing on boats but is that because when they bring the fish up it will die from the pressure? excuse my ignorance

Yeah the pressure change can kill the fish as they get barotrauma

A lot of species that are caught from a boat, if to be released successfully, require various types of special care and correct release technique.

A lot of species that are pulled from water of any depth suffer in varying ways from barratrauma - the delitarious effect extracting (retreiving) a fish from deep in the water column (where they are under greater atmospheric pressure equivalent) to thw surface - which is less pressure. Like a diver asscending too quick. This requires correct use of a release weight, or similar mechanism.

Additionally, if fish are handled poorly (unsupported, dry hands, dry sunny surface etc) they can die. Or if 'swum' incorrectly even.

So the seasonal West Coast Bioregion preclusion of the 'Valuable 5/Cat 1' catch retension will mean more fish will be released, more potentially, ny inexperienced boat fishos, hence more floaters.

Colin Molloy

(Colin 2 - Co-founding member of the prestigious Colin Club)

I am a little confused after watching the news.
Does all the rules apply from just kalbarri south?
The cat 1 fish being decreased from 7 a day to 4.
Is that just kalbarri south or all of w/a?

www.rockyreefmarine.com.au

These arguments about how young people won't get into fishing because of the V5 seasonal bans are somewhat ridiculous, don't you think? How many of us started fishing as small kids, catching dhuies and snapper? I'm quite happy with the ban during school holidays. Remember, January is a snapper breeding month, and not just in Cockburn/Warnbro Sounds. They are quite easily caught during that time at places like the Five Fathom Bank as well. While they're breeding!

If you bought a boat just to catch a feed of dhufish/snapper, wouldn't it have been cheaper just to buy the fish instead? Think beyond the heavy sinkers/lumps of octopus/20 mile runs offshore....if you're in it for something other than a feed, try a bit of trolling or maybe some light tackle fishing with soft plastics on the back of the reef. There's more to fishing than just hauling up meat.

As far as "floaters" go, the number of people going out there is going to be heavily reduced during the ban. When the ban begins this October, I can't see myself burning up 100 litres of petrol at $2 a litre (or more) trying to catch a banded sweep or a sargeant baker.

This is something that needed to be done, the government's only mistake (and not just THIS government) is that they left it to long to do anything about it.

I think it would have worked better if they shortend the closure time and put a complete ban on bottom fishing then Barotrauma wouldn't be an issue. Maybe spread the months out a bit more or even no fishing first week of every month? this would be easier for the fishing/boating industry to survive rather than such a large period of time with reduced profits. Main thing that concerns me the 4 month ban could be in forever once in place. Alot of these new fishing regs are based on very little scientific evidence and alot of guess work. What will be different  in the future? will they do another creel survey and times it by the amount of Rec boats again? It would be good to know how they will measure if these new regs have been a big success or not. It will be interesing to see if in the near future we start noticing more fish and larger sizes?

Will be entertaining seeing all the boats at the ramp the first good day after the closure, get down there early. LOL, Ramp Rage!

How do these people making the rules know how many fish are out there? Does john ford go fishing?

www.rockyreefmarine.com.au

They don't, He doesn't

Raise the size limits of all cat one fish only one dhuie per person ;more marine parks ,"CLOSURE   i'll give them some floaters

yeah as we spoke about paul, put dhuies to 60cm pinks to 50, raise them all by 5cm or 10cm, that would be fair and reasonable marine parks, not full closure of cockburn sound geo bay etc, dont think too many people would object, funny how its still 2 dhuies though but lowered snapper, especially considering dhuies are really only found in wa, but snapper are all over the lower part of australia

what i meant to say is 'i have never been fishing on a boat'

 im sure its awesome.

 thanks for that i was just wondering

Is this a total ban or only between lano and agusta

Kalbarri to Augusta

Well i think a lot more people will go out of there way to break the ban .Plenty break the rules now, on bag limits and size limits,there's no fisheries on the ramp so who's going to stop them. I for one will head out deeper, and target other fish, and hope i don't catch to many cat one fish in the prosess .it really shits me that i am even thinking this way, after years of releasing large amounts of fish to make sure there is still fish for the future.but i draw the line at some pollie telling me i can't enjoy my hobbie the way i want to, im a deep sea bottom bouncer, not a whiting herring fisho. Thats all from me, on this f#^&*% topic.....

how long will it be befor the guys trolling up surface fish get the same action the bottom bouncers are facing now. i didnt buy y boat just for the meat  but it is how ever a nice plus to be able to enjoy some nice tasting fish after the efforts put in. I myself enjoy jigging around the little lumps, more often than not its a smabo i pull up but every now and then it will be a dhuie or a pinkie. now i have to release them. coe in closer and get a feed of whiting or skippy that is until they then become threatened and then it will be none at all. can anyone answer why the closure this year is till december 25th then the next years will be 31st of january. why not juts make it all the same.i juts hate to see how much an impact it has on everyth else not just fishing but the people affected in other areas of this. but why is it that the dhuies are still at 2 per person and not reduced compared to snapper doesnt make sense.

I would have liked to have seen the V5 seperated from the other CAT1 fish, the reason given by minister is it would be too confusing for anglers to understand the bag limit, 4 V5 and 3 CAT1 = Bag limit 7, I'm so confused!!! We can't fish we can't count LOL!

concise manner to the letters to the editors pages of the West Australian, the Sunday Times and your local papers. There is an election coming and it is time to tell the Minister what you think as it appears he didn't listen too closely to concerns raised by rec fishermen previously.
Nothing concerns a pollie more than disgruntled voters airing there voices in the public arena when an election is coming.
(Colin 1 - Co-founding member of the prestigious Colin Club)

What do you guys expect, how much do you think we will be paying for fresh fish for Xmas.i dont mind a ban but for F#*K sake open it a week before Xmas and ban the pro's as well.this is just another one of WA fisheries knee jerk reactions like the crabs let the pro's wreck it and make the rec's pay.
I cant even get some crabs for chrissy now but i bet the pro's will have some excemption how much will they be as well.
West coast bioregion just for now, next year the whole state
Why do you guys think they did the pro's first,

Sorry but no red shirts they can get a job on one of the pro boats

I dont think so just throw them over haven't got time

I'll give the minister a log book a special log book> still steaming.Lol!

U know whats the worst thing...........? Knowing you cant do f#*k all about it! Thats my comment and i agree with most comments written this can go on for days and wont achieve jack now that pisses me but i suppose just like evryone else where going to have to deal with it. Suxs asre hey.



Keep it tight, reeeeeeel tight!



*****RECFISH MEMBER*****

As I said once before ..Once closed it will never open again!!!

We gave them the inch and they took a mile!! A--holes...

Help the guys out with research and get shat on......

bloody hell.this is not good .no no no .i hope things are worked out a bit better and fairer in the near future .dont know how .maybee one week ya can one week ya cant and maybee an extra couple of weeks of it .but a total ban is just f$%ken absurd.ford just lost my vote
always in it just the depth that varies

I for one thought spearfishing on scuba was definitely going to be banned..... But very happy to see we go a reprieve. But looks like we won't be able to get our one nice fish with our eight crays till after Christmas.

I guess the decision now is go south below Augusta or north to Sharkbay during that time. Someone needs to put togeather a comparison of the last 5 years of winds from Oct 15 to Dec 25 in Augusta and Sharkbay. That way we can plan our trips. Either way north or south, if you are prepared to drive at night you can be fishing in the morning.

As far as charters go, I think if they target deep water fish, say 150 to 300 metres deep they may pick up new customers that have boats who normally wouldn't be comfortable traveling out that far. 

I also think as a spinoff, the goverment should have removed road tax off our boat fuel. The fishing community missed a good chance during the discussion time.

At the end of the day, I think the result will be a lot less fisherman and boats, 99% of the small private fishing shops shutting down, ally boat sales dropping off with some small manufacturers closing down, a further increase in the closure above Kalbarri and fishing, like hunting becomeing something of the past for the next generation.

"As far as charters go, I think if they target deep water fish, say 150 to 300 metres deep they may pick up new customers that have boats who normally wouldn't be comfortable traveling out that far."

I think the problem there is if they have to start going a lot further to deeper water they are going to be increasing their prices because of the rising fuel costs therefore losing customers who think that the current prices are a bit steep anyway...I think the charters are on a slipery slope down!

all the virgins..............Thanks for nothing!

Get out there people and fill your freezers full of quality fish before the 3 month ban thats what I'll be doing,stuff'm.

Kev

FISHING IS MY ADDICTION

the new regs are here to stay i think so we just have to grin and bear it ,no amount of complaining will change it.the key word is diversify.

RUSS

I have to dissagree with ya on this , if we just sit back and accept this without a fight then whats for them to bring in harsher restrictions later with no data to show for it , they will say to themselves they took the last lot without a fight lets rip them a new ar$ehole as they didn't mind the last one we gave them.

we have to let them know that this sucks , no data to show for all this , we get a rec only area and then without any further research they dole out this crap after all the submissions on this , well maybe I was the only one who said this closure $hit shouldn't fly .

JMHO on this crapfest the govt is shoving down our throat .

________________________________________________________________________

 Oatsfishwest member 88 .

I heard a rumour of a good protest idea

Get 100 to 300 boats towed into Perth during peak hour and all try to find parking spots around parliment house as its not against the law to tow a boat.

Hang some placards on the boats for advertising

Anyone interested???

Terry, would appreciate clarification/interpretation on this please (appreciating it's the Minister's paper administered by DoF):

'The seasonal restriction will prohibit the take, landing and possession of the “vulnerable 5” pecies; dhufish, pink snapper, baldchin groper, breaksea cod and red snapper/bight redfish. '

If I interpret that litterally, you are not allowed to catch (take) V5s. Perhaps that should have read INTENTIONALLY take. If you fish for other non V5 dmersels in the WCB (during the 'closed season'), then V5 bycatch is likely, which means that, if that section of 231 is interpreted litterally, you'd be breaking the law?

I may be interpreting this too literally, but the wording doesn't give me any other conclusions.  

Colin Molloy

(Colin 2 - Co-founding member of the prestigious Colin Club)

Colin



Here are somne extracts from the Fish Resources Management Act. http://www.slp.wa.gov.au/legislation/statutes.nsf/main_mrtitle_345_homepage.html

That's exactly what I was looking for - (Sec 48) - Defence - that's the sought of stuff that needs promulgation. 

Also interesting reference Release Weight discussions:- In the defence to "taking," there is that requirement to "return the fish to its natural environment with the least possible injury"....

Whilst appreciating that the 'jury verdict' (public commentary) is not unanimous on the effectiveness of release weights, I would say the inevitable bycatch of V5s and the only (horribly visible) alternative is release weights and that they should be made compulsory.

People need to do the right thing or consult a lawyer.

Maybe consult a lawyer AND (then) do the right thing.

As an Interesting adjunct, one of the Albany local papers posted the Minister's statement, more than inferring that the V5 closure applies down here. Of course, as we know, it applied to the WCB only and NOT (yet anyway), the south coast. I'll be writing to them to clarify that. Obviously, that's why you didn't post any of this on the Southcoast forum. 

Thanks again Terry! 

Colin Molloy

(Colin 2 - Co-founding member of the prestigious Colin Club)