Reeltime Issue 2 Poll - Do you agree with the 1m maximum size that is currently applied to the Grey Banded Cod in WA?
Submitted by Tim on Fri, 2009-05-22 21:24
Yes - I believe that the 1m max size limit for Grey Banded Cod is an appropriate means of managing the stocks of this species.
15% (10 votes)
No - I do not believe that the 1m max size limit is a suitable method to manage the stocks of this species.
85% (58 votes)
Total votes: 68
Dreamweaver
Posts: 4688
Date Joined: 01/12/07
Question Guys?
I've never targetted these - is it practical to use a release weight on these? If so, then shouldn't we be at least attempting release of plus 1m fish with a weight rather than the certain death of floaters? Or is it a case that the vast majority of catches are dead due to the greater baratrauma effects?
GREAT article BTW Tim!
Soon to be de "dreamweaver" ed!
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
I think the point is that if
I think the point is that if you see fish that come up like the ones in the mag, they're not going to survive under any conditions, release weight or not.
A dhufish caught in 40m is only at 5atm pressure, but a grey-banded cod pegged in 250m is at 26atm pressure!
Dreamweaver
Posts: 4688
Date Joined: 01/12/07
Cheers Till
Yes; that's the impression I was leaning towards, but wasn't sure.
Soon to be de "dreamweaver" ed!
Tim
Posts: 2497
Date Joined: 26/09/06
Point
Till is on the money with this one Colin. The majority of these fish come to the surface dead. The ones that dont are near on impossible to get down.
I have had 10kg fish come to the surface and look in good enough condition to try and release. We have made up a release weight of around 160oz and it doesnt have an effect. The fish still floats on the surface with the weight in its mouth.
We have been mucking around with the idea of a sacrificial weight but the logistics of carrying enough weight to release a 1m+ or 30kg fish just dont seem practical based on experience.
There are always exceptions to the rule so the odd fish may go back down easier but overall this would be a significantly small percentage.
Dreamweaver
Posts: 4688
Date Joined: 01/12/07
Thanks Tim?
What sought of weight would be required to send these to the bottom then?
Would the 'sacrificial weight' you are experimenting with be as simple as a heavier weight, barbless hook and light line? I guess, either way, sunk to the bottom or released as floaters, they'd be open to easier predation.
Given that your experience has shown a very high mortality, I can't see the value of impossing the 1m upper limit.
Soon to be de "dreamweaver" ed!
Swamp
Posts: 121
Date Joined: 10/03/09
Good Article
Should send it to fisheries.
I agree with protecting the big cod in general but in the case of Greybands the rule is doing more harm than good. You end up killing more than your bag limit. Size restrictions are pointless as the fish die what ever the size.
Cheers,
Swamp
mako magic
Posts: 5785
Date Joined: 03/08/05
a definate big NO vote for
a definate big NO vote for me
carnarvonite
Posts: 8667
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Dead
The fish are usually dead by the time you get them up,putting a release weight on them is merely removing it from sight,its not going to revive it.Most of the time when you catch one by the time you have got it up the first 40 metres or so its dead,it sort of floats the rest of the way up,there is no fight left in it.
There should be no maximum or minimum size limit,sticking with a bag limit of 2 per person and a boat limit of 4 regardless of how many anglers on board.
roberta
Posts: 2773
Date Joined: 08/07/08
Terrible to see, yes must agree have a limit
I'd prefer a boat limit say 2 to a boat regardless of how many on board. These grey banded in reading Tims report are even slower growers than the dhuie, so once people get the confidence to go deep 200 metres plus it will imo reduce the stock of the Grey Banded Cod. So by only have a bag limit of 2 it may stop some people from going out all the time, as how can the gray banded put up a good fight when literally half way up its dead. My heart says ban the catch of them all together. But my head says no, let their be a limit regardless of size 2 per boat regardless of how many on board.
Ginger Tablets Rock
HuggyB
Posts: 2515
Date Joined: 03/08/08
as most have said
I think a bag limit irrespective of size limits is a much more sensible option. They simply wont re-release as shown.
The Terrorist - coming to a fishing spot near you.........
Colin Hay
Posts: 10407
Date Joined: 23/10/07
It is one of the most ridiculous laws I have seen
Ranks right up there with the law (which is still on the books) that says an Australian taxi driver can be penalized if he does not have an armload of hay in his vehicle.
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roberta
Posts: 2773
Date Joined: 08/07/08
Your kidding, laws the pollies have forgotten to amend ,,,, but
on another note Colin love your new avatar
Ginger Tablets Rock
Colin Hay
Posts: 10407
Date Joined: 23/10/07
Thanks Roberta That's where I grew up and learned to fish
On another matter, one of the more interesting local laws still on the books is an ordinance that you must have a chicken on a leash if you take it walking in the main street - but only after 6 pm.
Got to love it.
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Lui_F
Posts: 36
Date Joined: 02/03/08
This Rule Needs Amendments
This rule may be Ok for Rankin cod and the like but these fish as per the article live in such deep water that this rule makes no sense, how can the Dept. Of Fisheries really justify the wastage of such a precious resource, this has to be changed so that we can preserve this precious fish stock as returning oversize/undersize fish is simply not a viable alternative in these fishing depths. The article was great by the way, thanks.
7739ian
Posts: 948
Date Joined: 25/06/08
Catch 22
how can a bag limit or a minimum size help either way if they come up dead or dying? The bag limit sounds fine if you catch 2 - but who is going stop fishing after catching 2 fish? I would think a lot of people would continue fishing in the hope of catching something else - and still catch Grey Bands.
carnarvonite
Posts: 8667
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Happen
That is going to happen anyway,you will always get some greedy bastard who will up size his fish.The same thing goes on with dhufish and snapper now but unless there is an inspector on hand there isn't any way to police it
damo6230
Posts: 2029
Date Joined: 07/06/08
definitely NO!
maximum of two fish per boat. the biology of the fish should dictate this policy.
head in after that, plenty of other options. Good article nonetheless.
if we manage fish stocks ourselves through self impossed limits then this will help the government agencies. fisheries, like all government agencies presently are still sorting through the uncle Colin B efficiency dividends........ we are all losing budget money this finacial year...... the "people" voted him him?
while government has some responsibility to manage the fisheries we too as anglers have a greater role.
Dazza
Posts: 126
Date Joined: 25/09/07
harpuka
i agree tim i have tried to release harpuka that are in much better condition than any greyband i have caught and they wont go back either it is just the depht that they come from that kills them. we bring them up slow and they are still dead. caught a 16kg dhu out of 70m the other day brought that up slow and it was a fresh as a daisy no trouble wot so ever swimming. they should be a maximum size limit on dhuies like barra. now the fight started.
All your gyprock needs
Tim
Posts: 2497
Date Joined: 26/09/06
Comments
Thanks all who have so far voted or commented. Makes for interesting reading to see the various thoughts.
I noticed a few have voted YES that the 1m rule is appropriate. Just wondering if any of those people are willing to share their opinion or thoughts on why they voted that way.
If anyone is worried about posting publically a PM would be appreciated. I for one would certainly be interested in your thoughts.
Paul G
Posts: 5215
Date Joined: 12/12/07
Tim I think you should stop
Tim I think you should stop fishing out there alltogether ,poor fish. Try bringing them up slower like a diver maybe decompression stops every 10m for five minutes.Just make sure you have a full day to get it to the top . by the way thats a NO for me.
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Tim
Posts: 2497
Date Joined: 26/09/06
Stop
Ill stop out there if you stop killing all those poor defenceless Dhuies
.
Paul G
Posts: 5215
Date Joined: 12/12/07
Haven't been doing to much
Haven't been doing to much damage of late,will have to lift my game
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Andy Mac
Posts: 4778
Date Joined: 03/02/06
Bump
If you haven't voted yet, read Tim's article in Issue 2 of the Reeltime mag and then cast your vote.
Cheers
Andy Mac (Fishwrecked Reeltime Editor & Forum Moderator)
Youngest member of the Fishwrecked Old Farts Club
riptide
Posts: 70
Date Joined: 14/01/09
no
damo says it: the biology of this fish requires a bag limit and / or dont fish those depths at all. whats worse: going home after catching 2 fish and have a good feed, and target something else; or catching 2 fish, but killing a high number of fish while trying to get an even bigger one?
it's a hot topic, everyone should think careful about it, imo its not about who got the biggest, most and heaviest but about being responsible with resources
cheers
Chris