New Artificial Reefs off Bunbury
Submitted by Hambo on Sat, 2013-03-23 07:11
Hi Guys, wasnt sure if everyone was aware but RecfishWest is deploying its 30 purpose built modules as part of the artificial reef off of Bunno this weekend. Wondering if anyone is heading out to mark where they drop them for future fishing opportunities. Other projects similar to this have begun producing thumper fish within 6 months of deployment. Im spewing i am offshore at work at the moment becuase i certainly wood have gone for a look to see where they were. If anybody knows the whereabouts could you fill me in with a PM or something. Cheers.
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**The more I learn about fishing the more I realise how much more I have to learn about fishing**
Ian Macca
Posts: 133
Date Joined: 08/05/12
Yep should be a good
Yep should be a good thing!
Howard George
Posts: 544
Date Joined: 10/03/11
Co-ordinates Hambo.
Bunbury Site.33Deg 18.500'S-115deg 35.900'E (WGS 1984) from the 22 march to 26march 2013. Hope that helps Hambo. Trying to work out how to keep a record of what gets caught and when for the research thats taking place and thinking along the lines of a facebook site to register catch seeing that most people have mobile phones that can go internet.
choc
Posts: 670
Date Joined: 05/01/12
I saw them dropping these off
I saw them dropping these off at Busso Marina last week, so I guess the Dunsborough ones already done.
Howard George
Posts: 544
Date Joined: 10/03/11
Yep choc.
In the water and operating hopefully. I was talking to the skipper of the tug boat and apparently according to him, there was a bit of trouble with the first few getting things exactly right but they got their act together after a while and everything went off without a hitch. For us guys that have been pushing for these reefs we've still got a heap of work to do yet and prove to the sceptics that they actually create more fish and increase the overall fish bio-mass in the ocean. If we can prove that then you can expect to see them deployed all along our coastline.
Toothfish
Posts: 37
Date Joined: 10/03/09
Certain to get hammered
Being so close to shore (less than 2 miles) they are sure going to get a workout.
Expect to see heaps of boats of all sizes,jet skis,kayaks and the odd bathtub with paddles on calm days.
It doesn't matter how deep it is.
Once it goes past your nose it doesn't matter!
Howard George
Posts: 544
Date Joined: 10/03/11
You've Got To Expect Toothfish
The more artificial structures that go in the more choice people have as to where they fish and then there is less pressure on any one reef whether it be natural or artificial. It's early days but at least we've made a start.
Hambo
Posts: 68
Date Joined: 17/11/11
Agreed
Hammered or not. We have to ensure that these things work so we can get more of them. I think they are a great idea.
**The more I learn about fishing the more I realise how much more I have to learn about fishing**
kempy
Posts: 810
Date Joined: 28/05/09
Thats goign to be awesome
Thats goign to be awesome should bring some good stuff nice and close to the shore.
Dinkum Auto Electrical A/C & Mechanical Unit 10/16 Kent way Malaga 0438755754 Also Mobile
Open 7 days except when we are fishn For all your auto electrical needs
Geoff78
Posts: 324
Date Joined: 05/03/13
interesting design
Have those blocks been designed specifically for an artificial reef or are they used primarily for anothrr purpose?
Howard George
Posts: 544
Date Joined: 10/03/11
There Are Different Designs Geoff78
The reef design that is being use is considered the best option for our type of conditions. I reckon in the future our scientists that are considered the best in the world will play around with the design that best suit individual locations targeting different types of fish but at the moment they are on a learning curve and us fisho's need to help them out as much as we can by providing information of what we catch on them.
Geoff78
Posts: 324
Date Joined: 05/03/13
more than happy to help
I am a massive believer in artificial reefs for a number of reasons. I would like to see tag and release reefs, sanctuary zone reefs, dive only reefs, line fish only reefs etc. Have some reefs closed to all activity for certain periods. Really exciting stuff.
Howard George
Posts: 544
Date Joined: 10/03/11
Your Profile Geoff78
When I checked your profile Geoff78 it didn't say where you reside and fish but there will no doubt be a consultation period that everyone in your region will be asked to participate in and I urge you to voice what you want where you fish. That was the way things were handled down here in Busso. so I guess the same will apply for you.
Geoff78
Posts: 324
Date Joined: 05/03/13
Manning
I live in Manning (near South Perth) and would like to get involved. I fish from Cockburn Sound to Hillarys.
Howard George
Posts: 544
Date Joined: 10/03/11
Keep Yourself informed Geoff78
Recfishwest were involved in all the meetings we had down here so keep yourself informed of what they're up to and I'm sure you'll succeed in getting what you want.
fishy fingers
Posts: 1719
Date Joined: 28/04/07
dive or fish reefs
Are these going in specifically for fishing or diving or research or all purpose use? cos if the dive clubs get their way (and I dive too) fishing will be banned on them and if for all purpose use I see a lot of conflict between divers and fishers.
carnarvonite
Posts: 8673
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Hook or two
Nothing that a hook or two in a wetsuit won't fix.
Doesn't matter where you go , you will always get some one doing the wrong thing, take those who go diving out at the FADs, a device put there by game fishing groups for attracting fish that normally one wouldn't see and you find blokes spearing in over a hundred metres of water yet you go anywhere near the dive wrecks with a line and hooks and see what happens.
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
I don't think its the same
I don't think its the same people that are spearing that are preventing fishing on dive wrecks. Typically if you can't fish the wreck, then you can't spear it either.
Howard George
Posts: 544
Date Joined: 10/03/11
No scuba diving allowed.
We had a long discussion on this fishy fingers and the final decission was to ban the use of scuba diving on these reefs based solely for safety reasons. Fishers will have lures and ganged hooks jigging for fish and it's just to dangerous. I do believe there will be artificial reefs put in the ocean of similar designs that fishing will be banned on purely for research purposes to compare reefs that are fished and those that are not.
WADRay
Posts: 301
Date Joined: 20/12/09
Any idiot that suggests
Any idiot that suggests artificial reefs/systems dont work needs to go look at the fish life on any existing man made structure in the ocean, FFS look at an oil rig....instead of wasting millions of dollars arguing about shit like this we should be actioning it.
Use the coin for something beneficial, just like carbon tax and all our other BS aussie excuses for spending coin on fuck all and gaining nothing. Just wish our bone head politicians would wake up and smell the roses, we are slipping further behind the rest of the western world with every bs argument and study we do....
Howard George
Posts: 544
Date Joined: 10/03/11
Some Fishers WADRay
We have some very experienced recfishers down here in Busso. who are bitterly opposed to artificial reefs and to restocking the ocean with fish from hatcheries but what can you do. You.ve just got to do what you believe in and if they don't want to fish them that's their choice What supprises me though is these very same people are keen Busso. jetty fishermen.
WADRay
Posts: 301
Date Joined: 20/12/09
I too live in Busso,It is my
I too live in Busso,
It is my professional opinion that about 80% of people in busso that tell you they are "very experienced" fishermen are ignorant morons. I genuinely doubt half of the fishermen in Busso know how to tie a paternosta, let alone actually understand the basics behind a marine eco-system.
Of the two fishing shops in Busselton there are 2 staff I actually talk to, where I can visit a shop only 20km away which is smaller then either of the shops in Busso but holds better gear and also (except the 2 aforementioned people) has better more experienced people working there.
Saying that Damo where is my quote?
Howard George
Posts: 544
Date Joined: 10/03/11
I've Got to be A bit Diplomatic WADRay
Damo was a member of the refference group and played an inportant part in getting these structures into the water. Also our new Fisheries Minister was instrumental in getting the proposal and the funding approved by Parliament so unless he starts playing funny buggers again i reckon he'll be in a position and keen for more artificial reefs to be deployed.
xtont
Posts: 29
Date Joined: 30/10/12
Artificial reefs
Howard the Darwin harbour is alive with artificial reefs, from cleaned-up vessels to surplus concrete culverts and other suitable large items. I'm sure NT Fisheries could supply documentation as to their viability.
In the late 80's a prawn trawler sunk on the Qld coast and was dragged to a island in 6-10 metres. I dived on it nearly daily for a fortnight about a week after the sinking and fish aggregated almost from day one. Weed and coral growth was immediate. I made the wreck a regular dive about once a month in the following year and would always see coral trout, trevally and schools of bait fish and the occasional croc.
Any artificial reef is good.
Christo's one man army
Real fishermen do not feel sorry for their bait
Howard George
Posts: 544
Date Joined: 10/03/11
Other artifical reefs Geo.Bay xtont
We've got a heap of artifical structures in Geo Bay but these are purpose built reefs targeting pelagics and the meeting is about trying to help our scientists in the Fisheries Department prove they actually produce more fish than just attracting fish from surrounding natural reefs. At the moment we're probably loosing the argument but time will tell.
dodgy
Posts: 4580
Date Joined: 01/02/10
You realise that a few of
You realise that a few of these have been put down by rec anglers themselves?
Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
Howard George
Posts: 544
Date Joined: 10/03/11
I Don't Suppose dodgy
You don't happen to have the co-ordinates of these other reefs dodgy because I was referring to the Swan dive site, Busso. Jetty etc etc,but I'd be more than happy to check out any other structures thoroughly.
dodgy
Posts: 4580
Date Joined: 01/02/10
It was the NT wrecks that I
It was the NT wrecks that I was referring too Howard. Got plenty of coords for them....
Was quite a push from rec fishers that added another half dozen or so to the existing systems. Turned out to be a relatively painless process once the initial hurdles were jumped through.
Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
Howard George
Posts: 544
Date Joined: 10/03/11
Sorry dodgy
I misunderstood your post dodgy and I'm just a bit touchy on the subject seeing that I've been accused of putting illegal reefs into the Bay.I've just got into the habit of saying, I need the co-ordinates so I can see for myself.
TheJettyRat
Posts: 733
Date Joined: 02/03/12
So this is your secret
So this is your secret buisness ay Howard. Should attract some good choppers. Seriously though good idea those reefs. something that would definitely get my vote in Howards secret refference group.
squidder
Posts: 457
Date Joined: 03/09/10
Public meetings
and "ALL" are welcome.
Hi Guys n Gals,
Recfishwest and the Department of Fisheries will be holding a free community forum on the artificial reefs in Bunbury on Wed 29th May at the Lord Forrest Hotel, and in Busselton on Thurs 30th May at the Esplanade Hotel. Everyone is welcome.
I was hoping that you might all be able to plug it on the fishing forums so that we can get a good crowd down there. Which is what I'm doing.
Mark Pagano will be discussing the entire process from the study tour of South Korea to their placement in Geographe Bay. Paul Lewis is a fisheries researcher who will be discussing the monitoring programs and Andrew Rowland will be filling everyone in on the citizen science component of the project, for which members of the public will be able to participate.
Bunbury Lord Forrest Hotel Wednesday 29th 6.30pm
Busselton Esplanade Hotel Thursday 30th 6.30pm
Versus
Posts: 918
Date Joined: 06/03/09
post this up as a new topic
post this up as a new topic mate
sea-kem
Posts: 15031
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Just my two bob's worth.
Just my two bob's worth. These things will work gauranteed. We have the small refuelling pod (dolphin) at Seabird and on any day you can go there and bag out on Herring and Skippy. We sat there once and the Hezzas were literally like flies. It's about time common sense prevailed. This is where I'd like to see my rec fish dollars going
Love the West!
Spitfire56
Posts: 128
Date Joined: 29/07/12
Agree seakem
Would be nice to see some money go into structure for fish, would take some pressure off the popular reefs
Habanero
Posts: 225
Date Joined: 19/06/12
working
The Dunsborough Artificial is allready producing , with Sambo's , Skippy (large) and Pinkies being caught , I' managed a 60cm Dhu on SP from it last Tuesday . At present Scuba and Freediving is allowed on the Duns reef but no go on Bunbury one .
Hats off to Mark Pagano , he was the driving force behind it.
Justo82
Posts: 482
Date Joined: 17/10/11
amazing that it's working so
amazing that it's working so quickly.... I would have thought min 6-12 months before any decent fish were produced.
I will definitely check them out next time i'm down there with the tub. hopefully in the next few months.
cheers