Gday guys, here are a few pics of a 3 week family holiday we just arrived home from. I drove up by myself in my 1988 hj61 Landcruiser, and flew the family in to Broome 5 days later. We had 4 nights at Cape Leveque, 5 in Broome, 2 at Eco Beach, 1 at Pt Samson, and finally 3 in Coral Bay. At Leveque every morning was spent at the island (over the spring low tide) with the kids swimming and me hooking trevelley and Long Tom every couple of casts until all my chrome twisty lures were gone...

i am having trouble uploading more photos - but here are a few...

FB buzzing reporting another behind Garden Island a short while ago....anyone got further info? 

When I was a lot younger there used to be a tv show titled "why is it so" or something like that and was presented by a professor Julies Sumner miller (I think that was his name).

On this how he would explain why things where just so, and it was all very entertaining.

In todays west Australian News paper we have another well respected fishing column writer pointedly asking Fisheries "just why is it so" in regards to the amount of yellow fin whiting the pros are ripping out of the Peel Harvey Estuary.

I will be one of the first to sing and dance in praise of Fisheries when they do some very good work in the field protecting OUR fishing stocks. I will also raise my voice when I see or hear Fisheries acting like the three monkeys, hear no evil see no evil and most certainly not speak any evil. With regards to a very important fishery.

There is a requirement for Fisheries to undertake a study of the YFW stocks in the Peel Harvey Estuary when the catch of YFW exceeds a certain limit. The fishing writer in the west is saying that this limit placed on the fishery has been well and truly exceeded (about 3 times over)and there has been no action by Fisheries (at least that the public is aware of) to have a close look at what is going on down here.

There is a place in society for pro fishers and they play an important roll in our society providing fresh fish for those that don't fish.

There is no place for them if they rape and pillage the limited stocks of the YFW that bring a lot of people into Mandurah to sample this very enjoyable pastime.

We are now seeing to very respected fishing column writers and the premier fishing body in the state asking Fisheries.

Why is this so.
That there is no sign of people getting out of the aircon office and taking a long hard look at the YFW bio mass.

 Had a dive yesterday at a pretty good spot. It would be interesting to know how many crays are there. We took 16 and I think that would be less than 10 percent of what was there. We will now leave that spot alone till next season

www.youtube.com/watch

 Hi guys been away in Japan for ages, come back went to all my fav. spots on the river and it looks like weed heaven, Algee / Sea weed is everywhere is this normal for this time of the year?

Pot found, missing bouys out from ocean reef. 

 G'day all

a mate is looking to buy a boat in the 5.5-6.5m range 

several we have looked at don't have any form of top for sun and spray protection...has windscreen only 

just chasing an opinion on what it's gona cost roughly for either a set of rocket launchers and a hardtop or even just rocket launchers and a soft Bimini? I've had my clears in my boat replaced recently so I'm aware of the cost of that, more chasing the structural type cost.

will help with budgeting when looking at a few of them 

thanks for any advice 

jess

 Went out the other day near Australind and had no luck. But has anyone heard of anyone getting any whiting yet? Or we still a bit early for them?

Enjoy

Hi,

I am about to put my pots out and would appreciate it if anyone could recomended what are the best types of gloves to wear.  In the past I have used various varieties of gardening gloves with limited success.

Thanks

Dave Kleemann 

 i am looking at getting a daiwa vadel 4000h and matching it to a daiwa lateo 7-15kg 11ft spin rod for beach fishing any one ever used this reel or rod and any reviews or advice would be much appreciated 

 G day,

Have a nice light spin rod that someone who needs it can have. 

Its like a 2 peice 6 foot spin rod.

Pick up or I can deliver (within reason) in Bunbury area.

Would prefer to give it to some young bloke that needs it rather than someone who has 20 rods and just wants it!!

PM here!!

Cheers 

 Hey all , I need my 200 Mercury outboard cowling resprayed and decals redone ....can anyone recommend someone for the job????

Cheers

 Anyone able to help me out or point me in the right direction for some good ground of Albany as I'm going this weekend, was thinking break sea island or Vancouver rock are, have been out of ocean beach denmark and cleaned up before but In a smaller boat so Albany is new ground to us. Any help appreciated and if any one wants some pink/dhu metro spots for some spots down south I would be happy to trade. Cheers.

Hi guys, heading up to Jurien for the weekend but cant drag the boat unfortunately. Can anyone give me general idea of a decent land based spot to get my line stretched a bit.
And I did check previous posts, but they seem to be a few years old & maybe not that accurate now.

thanks in advance

Had the pleasure of fishing Billfish Bonanza with the Innkeeper crew. Quiet fishing with very few fish caught over the 3 days. We took out the win though with 3 blacks on 15kg. 

Brendan's a new charter operator in Exmouth and certainly knows his stuff! Not to mention his 44' O'brien is an absolute weapon!! Not many boats I know of that are capable of backing up on fish at 12 knots! Can't recommend him enough if you're looking for a charter

www.innkeepersportfishing.com

 Hey Guys and Girls heading to Lake Tinnaroo after xmas,does anyone have any advice on what lures to use and any tips techniques used TIA.

Hi Guys,

Just wanted to say I'm new to the site and thanks for adding me.

I am 35, have a 24ft 1980s Guardian that I fish off as often as I can and am also attempting to restore at the same time.

225hp Johnson Oceanpro on the back on a pod.

Although this is my first post I do a lot of reading and get all the experience I can off your site to help me with fishing and boat work so thanks for all info in the past and in the future.

Cheers,

Adam

 There were a few doubters about this supermoon and fishing.

I figured 37 degree day, light and pleasant easterly winds, moon making a close pass will be shining hard , high tide 9pm. Lots of boxes ticked. Heck why would I spend the evening watching TV.  Might as well hit the beach and I haven't had a beach session for ages.

My primary target was mulloway. Unfortunately mulloway didn't come to play. But the tailor did. Got 6 all up, with one more just sized that was released (to grow for the next supermoon :p).

Anyway it was a beauty of an evening with the gentle easterly and the moon shining so hard I barely needed my head torch.  Wife was happy coming home with fresh tailor too. 

How'd you go?

Lovely arvo for a paddle bait, burlied up with some tuna shred and fished based burly got a few nice little whitting before sunset 

As it cooled down I decided it was beer o'clock and left the misses in charge quick run to the bottlo 10 minutes later I arrive back the misses is fighting this beaut little girl 

Not the biggest tiger but the misses done bloody well with no gimble tiagra 50wa and 9ft 24-36kg lbg rod I was pretty impressed 

After a few snaps she swam away strong great sight under the full moon

WA Fisheries has prepared two fisheries management papers that address the appropriateness of current fish size limits in the State.  These papers are:

• Fisheries Management Paper Number 279 - Policy on the application of fish size limits in Western Australia
• Fisheries Management Paper Number 280 - A review of size limits for finfish in Western Australia

Links to the documents and a call for submissions can be found at:

http://www.fish.wa.gov.au/About-Us/public-comment/Pages/default.aspx. 

Submissions are due by 23 December 2016.

The important document is Paper 279 as it sets the policy considerations.  Paper 280 is the interpretation of the policies against existing size limits for the different species.  At first examination, the work does seem to be reasonably well researched.

I have set out the key elements of Paper 279 below as these should be properly considered before formulating any submission.  In fact, the submission should probably focus on these issues however some comments are likely to be required regarding individual species and how the policies have been applied to them in Paper 280.

Fisheries Management Paper Number 279 – Policy Statements

4.1 General

A size limit should only be used where, after taking into consideration other management tools that are in place; it will clearly assist in providing sufficient egg production and enable adequate recruitment to a fish stock under normal environmental conditions.

4.1.1 Reproductive Strategies

Reproductive strategies of species need to be closely considered in determining whether size limits are appropriate.

4.1.2 Fishing Mortality

If large numbers of undersized fish are returned to the water and a majority suffer high rates of post-release/ discard mortality, a minimum size limit may not provide significant stock sustainability benefits. In this situation it may be better to retain “undersize” fish, provided recreational and commercial fishers don’t engage in high-grading in fisheries which use bag limits or quotas. The effects of barotrauma in some species can be minimised through correct and careful handling. To assist in reducing the effects of barotrauma and maximising their chance of survival there is a requirement to have a release weight on board a boat in the West Coast Bioregion. However, even the correct use of a release weight will not ensure the survival of all fish being returned to the water, because post-release mortality rates from barotrauma typically increase when fish are caught from greater depths. Other strategies should be considered as a primary tool to reduce discard mortality e.g. stop fishing when a bag limit is reached and not targeting undesired fish. Where there is a high mortality rate of released/discarded fish, minimum size limits may not be an appropriate fishery management tool for ensuring adequate levels of egg production and sustainability. Other management controls need to be applied in these situations.

The relative proportions of a fish stock taken in a number of fisheries, and the fishing mortality characteristics associated with the fishing gear used in those fisheries, should be taken into consideration in determining whether to use a minimum size limit or in determining an appropriate minimum size limit.

4.1.3 Targeting / Retention

Minimum size limits are likely to be of little value for species where the majority of fish are released/discarded; especially where targeting or fishing pressure on a particular species is low.

The focus of a fishing activity and the likelihood that the species would be retained or released/discarded needs to be considered in the application of a minimum size limit.

Size limits many be counter-productive in controlling fishing mortality in species with high post-release/discard mortality.

4.2.1 Social

Higher minimum size limits, maximum size limits or limits on the take of larger fish may be required for some species to achieve social objectives.

Common minimum size limits are desirable for species with comparable biology and/or similarities in appearance to simplify the rules and aid compliance.

4.2.2 Economic

Different size limits can apply to the commercial sector for the purpose of achieving economic objectives provided that they do not detract from the achievement of the sustainability objective or unacceptably impact on recreational management objectives.

I would like to look at this matter carefully and make a submission on behalf of recreational fishing interests.  The submission would need to be balanced and clearly point out the matters in agreement or disagreement. I encourage you to have a look at the proposal and would value any comment provided on your opinion(s).

Thanks in advance.  Mick 

Hi guys,
I'm seeking your opinions on cray pot winches,my old Muir winch which has given me good service for a few years now has finialy karked it.

To get it fixed will be quite expensive and I think it would be throwing good money away as some other parts are quite likely on the way out so,
If you could please give me your opinions on the following winches they would be most appreciated. or any other winches that give good service. My boat is a 6m quinnie

Southern Oceans EC 1000A model

Maxwell winch (no idea what size I need.

Muir winches, size not known rust obliterated size on old one.

The winch would be used to pull wooden, steel bar base pots from 20 -25 metres of water

Thank you

 Hello all.

I'm trying to find this documentary to show my friends but can't find it. Where are you Dave Riggs? And where is the sequel? The whole documentary was awesome with the hydrocarbon seeps but I also particularly loved the local whalers stories about the underwater unknown that couldn't be a whale as it never surfaced! You actually needed to add more of those old man of the sea tales!

If anybody can help with this video please let me know and Dave,

update please!

 all the weather is looking like it will be prime time for land based fishing tonight whos keen and what are the target species

Hi all,
picked up a new boat a month ago, new to VHF, new to lgging on and off. So, today i thought my VHF was KAPUT when i was in the marina coming home and tried to log off. no chatter at all, like the unit was broken. she worked fine all day up to that point. is my conclusion that it didnt like the (limestone) walls possibly correct?  

 looking for some feedback on the BC 560/610WR.

Is there enough space to fish 3/4 off them, or does the back get too cramped getting to the bait board?

How we'll do they actually ride and how wet in Perth conditions? On a good day I'd like to still be able to head out 20nm and not be soaked and sore

With more than two, where do your crew stand/hold on underway. The lack of a backrest on the icebox is a bit average.

would you recommend one?

cheers

Well today is my 50th, don't clap just throw money I told all my mates.Ha Ha.

Heading to Exmouth for 2 weeks tomorrow with my "7m second wife" in tow, weather is shaping up alright.

 Me mate is towin up his big ali airider ready to expolre the depths. The boys trip is lookin sweet.

Things couldnt be better. Then my wife and brother book me in at Peak Sportfishing for two days while i am there apparently he is a expert at caching herring!!! my favourite species!!!!!!

Then I get flights to Kunnanurra for a barra trip next year. Been kissed on the dick by a fairy.

Let the the rest of the year be as good.

Must be doing something right

its a understatement to say that i am STOKED and blown away. Just wanted to share my joy. YOU BEAUTY.

Photos to come.

 Hi Lads

I have to go up to the big smoke friday and staying at the sister-in-laws in Scarbs. Everytime i go up her husband asks if i can bring a couple rods and take him for a fish.

Anywhere close by to there to throw a few lures for tailor or herring or squid or even some whiting? Anything to keep him interested for a few hours.

I avoid Perth like the plague so have absolutely no idea about fishing there.

Any help or tips would be greatly apreciated.

Cheers Jayce

on the way to check pots yesterday morning crossed a school of snapper spawning.  

if anyone with the license number  JR0695 is missing a cray pot off ocean reef send me a PM

your pot was found with a cut rope (we thought it could have been ours as we were missing one with the same colored rope)

ive got a GPS mark for it

Bodie