Closed seasons

[tugger]

Diferent states have closed season on parcticular species to protect that species during spawning stopping anglers from targeting them during this time which interupts the spawning cycle. It has been confirmed by fisheries offices before about these fish in a photo or measuring them after capture then releasing is against the law.

I wish not to upset anyone but to educate as i have seen a few reports of late here with fish out of season laying on a mat in a photo. It also is out there for the world to see including the authorities when it is placed on the net.

It is up to the individual to know the rules when fishing to not only protect themselves from prosecution but to also protect our fishery. These species have been identified that once caught during this time of the cycle that they will not spawn or look after their eggs.

After all we all its these fish we love to catch later on why not give them every chance to breed for the future

Closed seasons apply to bass, barramundi, murray cod and coral reef fin fish

[sweresy]

cheers Tugger, i cant agree more with your post... there's no real excuse and targeting 'other' species is a load of garbage as well.

The point you make about the fish being 'put off' their breeding cycle is the thing i see as doing the most damage when they're captured.....

It's not that anglers are keeping the said fish for a feed; it's the interruption to the breeding patterns. In places where fish are particularly fragile anglers should be VERY mindful of this. We all know of rare 'pockets' of species (i know of some good Estuary Perch down in the Brunswick river) but it's just plain foolishness to say fish on top of that school with live prawns or whatever because you can..... JUST for the sake of a brag mat/ brag shot/ lure promotion WHATEVER!

Sure everyone is going to accidentally pull a bass, barra or whatever in closed season but going out specifically to target them is super irresponsible let alone posting pics everywhere. You're right Tugger it's illegal too.......

Anyway sorry to offend anyone as well, rant over back to my cave....

[elops]

In the site terms it states you can not post illegal fishing activities :whistle:

Yet there are a constant stream of such posts and pics, some members are repeat offenders not only closed season but closed waters and protected species ?

[ellicat]

A barra caught in a mixed species fishery will release the same if held for a pic and then released the same as if it had've been released without the pic. Either way reproduction (if applicable to that fish) would have been interrupted. Big deal - they are not endangered and are supported by re-stocking technology and are widespread. The same goes for bass and murrays as far I can tell.

In a situation where they are the predominant species I agree with the rule 99% (You always need to consider if Bear Grylls is lost somewhere )

As for the AFO rule of posting illegal fishing activities, I'm not going to delete a good report that bucket loads of members have responded to stating their enjoyment where the catch is a mistake and/or the law may have been inadvertently broken or misunderstood. I believe that this situation provides an opportunity for education of the member and also those that read the report and responses. A well put post rather than an aggressive "go" at someone is not that hard. Alternatively a well timed thread such as this one is excellent. Think of it like a copper giving a young fella a friendly talking to.

Steve, tell me who, what and when and I will see what can be done by pm if necessary. I no longer read every post or thread anymore so rely on things being pointed out at times.

Also holding some fish horizontally by the jaw with the body unsupported isn't a good practice. Correct fish handling is another topic someway may consider starting.

[distrojunkie]

Also holding some fish horizontally by the jaw with the body unsupported isn't a good practice. Correct fish handling is another topic someway may consider starting.

Note that I was guilty of jaw holding, however these fish were caught '03,'04 and eaten by seven people one of whom was dying from cancer. However I was also ignorant of what I was doing to the fish now I know differenly and have changed my management accordingly.

[ellicat]

Doesn't matter how you hold them if they're not going to be released. Hold them up with a knife thru the eyes if you like ...as long as you stun them first :whistle:

[sweresy]

A barra caught in a mixed species fishery will release the same if held for a pic and then released the same as if it had've been released without the pic. Either way reproduction (if applicable to that fish) would have been interrupted. Big deal - they are not endangered and are supported by re-stocking technology and are widespread. The same goes for bass and murrays as far I can tell.

In a situation where they are the predominant species I agree with the rule 99% (You always need to consider if Bear Grylls is lost somewhere )

As for the AFO rule of posting illegal fishing activities, I'm not going to delete a good report that bucket loads of members have responded to stating their enjoyment where the catch is a mistake and/or the law may have been inadvertently broken or misunderstood. I believe that this situation provides an opportunity for education of the member and also those that read the report and responses. A well put post rather than an aggressive "go" at someone is not that hard. Alternatively a well timed thread such as this one is excellent. Think of it like a copper giving a young fella a friendly talking to.

Steve, tell me who, what and when and I will see what can be done by pm if necessary. I no longer read every post or thread anymore so rely on things being pointed out at times.

Also holding some fish horizontally by the jaw with the body unsupported isn't a good practice. Correct fish handling is another topic someway may consider starting.

sorry mate but i disagree about the photo thing. I understand that you're saying that the damage is done so to speak but prolonging the 'out of water' experience is adding extra stress to that fish..... These are fisheries findings that are (usually) conducted with some scientific data i'm lead to believe.

An example would be (and i realise that there isn't a closed season yet) but Threadfin Salmon. Anyone that catches a few of these fish will tell you that the whole photo thing as opposed to leaving them in the water and de hooking them there, can actually result in a high level of mortality. I realise all fish are different. Some fish you can bang over the head and they'll swim of and breed (convicts have been known to breed in the bag on the way home from the pet shop)

We are talking about certain fish that for one reason or another have been identified as needing some sort of protection in order to increase the numbers.........

I am not a greeny and love taking photos of fish, eating them etc etc. This is about the rules set out by Fisheries and the correct rules that fishermen/women should realise BEFORE they go fishing. I just reckon the old "it was by-catch'" or "i didn't realise" comments are pretty pathetic at the end of the day.

[ellicat]

The fish we are talking about - in particular barra bass and cod are tough as nail and release the same. They are the type you can "bang over the head". To compare to the king threadie is a bit of a stretch. They seem to die as soon as someone breathes near them. Ask tugger about the numbers that float into his workspace. Fisheries and their science aren't always right. Otherwise we wouldn't have green zones

If they didn't taken into account accidental capture their science would be very weak also

As for didn't know - well it happens. If I was to have caught a barra down the pin in off season a few years ago I would not have had a clue it was illegal as I (and I believe people generally) know the rules that apply to their area but are less informed on others. The same goes for a fresh fisho in the salt and the other way around. Especially for the younger fishos coming through. Not everyone is on a forum learning this stuff.

Some blokes have come here after they got a rod, went fishing a few times, caught a few species then decided to brag about it only to learn they've been keeping undersized jew. It may not be right but it happens.

Perhaps the DPI&F should supply all retailers with basic rule flyers to go out with all rods, reels and handlines sold.

I'm a greeny and reckon you probably are too....the sensible kind We'll just have to agree to disagree on the extent with this one

[sweresy]

mate, at the end of the day rules are rules..... i don't make them, i have to follow them (not always happily and I actually disagree with alot of them for the record)

They are there for a reason whether you or anyone else agrees is up to them. But to flaunt them is irresponsible fishing in anyones language. To encourage others that catch a string of fish and label them as by catch or throw them up on every public website is just ignorant and shows 'the younger guys' you mentioned that its ok to do so as well

i completely agree with you that DPI&F should supply retailers with FREE clear and precise flyers showing whats right and wrong. There still should be some onus on each angler to find out size limits/ closed seasons etc etc.

Ignorance isn't an excuse.... i agree fisheries are certainly not correct about alot of things but again that's not an argument to disregard the rules and promote that practice as being 'O.K' cause 'it happens' on a website with close to 10,000 members.

Again I am the last person to hug a tree but it seems that too many people just claim 'not knowing' as an excuse or are too preoccupied with other agenda to consider whats going on.

/>http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au
/>http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au

it's all there and it's the same website Fisheries will refer to when they're writing out your fine (if they ever get there)

[tiotony]

I agree with a lot of what's been said in this thread, and I am a rabid hater of people who specifically target barra in closed season and take jungle perch out of no fishing areas etc in my neck of the woods. Some of my aggressively worded posts can attest to this.

Yes, Callum and I did get a few barra as unwelcome bycatch on the weekend, however I would like to make it very clear that we were not specifically targeting them- I have been fishing that wharf for 17 years and so am reasonably aware of where the barra usually hang out on different tides and light levels etc. Hence we specifically targeted the deepest areas where barra are very uncommon and fingermark and jack are more the norm. We purposely did not fish the shallower lit up areas and during our session did mention that we were better staying where we were as if there's a few barra here then they are going to be wall to wall in the usual barra haunts.

If it was possible to release the fish without taking out of the water I would have done so, however noting we were fishing at the end of a long wharf this was not possible. Instead the fish were swum into a drop net lowered over the side, lifted up and comforted lifted onto the wet down brag mat for dehooking. On dehooking fish were comforted lifted and speared head first back into the water. During this process one person was on the camera while the other was getting the fish dehooked and back into the water as fast as possible. The photos of barra in a comfort lift were taken 1 second prior to spearing into the water. Total time fish were spending out of the water was about 15 seconds.

As I said I go out of my way to avoid barra during closed season but sometimes they are just really thick everywhere so all I can do is fish the places that my experience indicates holds few barra. Of note I have hooked many big female barra in closed season fishing for bream with tiny pieces of prawn, and fishing for grunter with slabs of mullet, and I've lost count of the number of barra I've accidentaly caught in the castnet too.

It needs to be remembered that barra are an extremely common fish in the far north, and trying to avoid them is exactly the same as if you tried to 'not' catch tailor down south, sometimes they are just everywhere.

I think in all fairness I've been doing the right thing, short of completely stopping fishing during closed season.

[sweresy]

Tiotony,

it's a tricky one isn't it? Especially when the said fish can at times be 'so thick' in a particular area( your example of in North Qld). I think that's certainly where fisheries need more research etc. or need to really target particular weak occurrences of a particular species... (like EP's in the Brunswick or Barra in the Noosa)

I would say at the end of the day its probably those little 'JP' streams you refer to or generally just areas you know that the particular fish are uncommon and fragile that need to be looked after. I'm sure you'll agree that breeding populations should be left alone when ever possible, rules are there for a reason (most of the time) and to say 'i didn't know' just doesn't cut it.

[ellicat]

tiotony, Good on you.

After all you have said there are still people who believe you should not fish at all as there is a chance you will hook a barra. That is ridiculous in my book.

Good on you for responding.

Sweresy, I am a staunch rule follower. I don't agree with breaking them. In mixed species fishing areas I believe the rule is out of kilter with reality. I don't agree that a AFO report should be removed if there is an opportunity for education....not just the report writer but those that read it. It all helps people know the rules imho. I am sure we are close on this topic.

[madmullet]

like i said months ago, this is an issue that will never be fixed. i feel and this is my choice and am not trying to drill it into anyone but what about licenses. i know it is a long shot and prob will never happen, but what if you were to sit a wriiten test on basic sizes, closers, green zones ect, just the most popular areas and species. when you have passed the test and you now hold a license and good knolage of basic fish ect then their is no excuse to break the law ect.

i am not a goody two shoes by any means, and by very very far a greeny as so to speak but you are write in saying that rules are rules.

i am not agreeing with or disagreeing with this but in callum ( pancakes ) post he was fishing from a warf in cairns. now he may or may not have been targeting them but when it comes down to it how can you stop a fish from biting your line.

in another post from fishinjack, he was fishing for cod and he wasnt under the impression that their wasnt a closure and the guide should have said something. but in that fishery their is minamal chance peolple would have been fishing for yellas and over the cod.

now these are only examples. so you see my point of view their. their is only 2 target species is the system down their, but when up in cairn their is i dont now 30+ species to target and it is a bit hard to stop a barra from taking your bait.

[sweresy]

Just a quick synopsis of my points.

1. Rules are made by Fisheries for a reason

2. Targeting fish when in closed season (in particular weak populations of fish in uncommon geographical locations) is an irresponsible fishing practice

3. Agree that many points are open to 'mass debate' (no pun intended) but 'bragging' fish captured in closed season by all intention sends the wrong message.

[tiotony]

Tiotony,

it's a tricky one isn't it? Especially when the said fish can at times be 'so thick' in a particular area( your example of in North Qld). I think that's certainly where fisheries need more research etc. or need to really target particular weak occurrences of a particular species... (like EP's in the Brunswick or Barra in the Noosa)

I would say at the end of the day its probably those little 'JP' streams you refer to or generally just areas you know that the particular fish are uncommon and fragile that need to be looked after. I'm sure you'll agree that breeding populations should be left alone when ever possible, rules are there for a reason (most of the time) and to say 'i didn't know' just doesn't cut it.

Good point Sweresy, this is the reason I personally don't chase JP's anymore as even though there's heaps still around, you can literally see JP numbers dropping and tilapia numbers skyrocketing.

I have huge attacks of the guilts when I get barra in closed season, but I'm a tiny drop in the ocean compared to some practices. As an example drove over the creek thismorning that Callum (Pancakes and Haggis) and I fished on sunday. Saw a gillnet completely blocking the creek from one side to the other. Traditional hunting and gathering my a$#%&!

[Cheyne_jones]

like i said months ago, this is an issue that will never be fixed. i feel and this is my choice and am not trying to drill it into anyone but what about licenses. i know it is a long shot and prob will never happen, but what if you were to sit a wriiten test on basic sizes, closers, green zones ect, just the most popular areas and species. when you have passed the test and you now hold a license and good knolage of basic fish ect then their is no excuse to break the law ect.

i am not a goody two shoes by any means, and by very very far a greeny as so to speak but you are write in saying that rules are rules.

i am not agreeing with or disagreeing with this but in callum ( pancakes ) post he was fishing from a warf in cairns. now he may or may not have been targeting them but when it comes down to it how can you stop a fish from biting your line.

in another post from fishinjack, he was fishing for cod and he wasnt under the impression that their wasnt a closure and the guide should have said something. but in that fishery their is minamal chance peolple would have been fishing for yellas and over the cod.

now these are only examples. so you see my point of view their. their is only 2 target species is the system down their, but when up in cairn their is i dont now 30+ species to target and it is a bit hard to stop a barra from taking your bait.

Licences will come mate, maybe not with the strict testing you talk about, but paying to fish our waters will be a reality in the medium term. As soon as certain representative bodies realise that a license will not dramatically impact the numbers of people that take part in this great sport amd decide to push the government on the subject it will come. Once that comes we will have the money needed to give out these free education tools etc, the only reason they dont exist now is due to lack of funds.

I was recently talking with John Diplock who had a huge part of getting the licence to work in New South Wales and I couldnt believe how much of a success it has been, they have had 100 million dollars generated from licences go back into their fishing scene just from licence fees in the last 10 years, imagine what could happen with that sort of money!

[pancakes_and_haggis]

To be honest I really do not have anytime to sit and read slagging posts from other members of what is by and large an extremely friendly and informative forum.

For anyone who has met and fished with me, I'm extremely cautious when fishing to ensure any fish I target are within season, of legal size and are caught on legal grounds!

On a side note for anyone who has read my previous posts and reports on catching a legal jack which has been a serious ambition of mine this summer and so when the opportunity arose to fish a spot that was 95% sure to hook a big jack and the opportunity to meet yet another generous and kind member of the community I was not about to turn it down.

May I just make an appology to those members that believe I may have been targeting barra, NEXT TIME I'LL GRAB A MARKER PEN AND WRITE "JACK FOOD" on the side of my live mullet!

I know my sizes, I know my rules, I carry an orange ruler everywhere I go for the extremely rare occasion when I keep a fish!!

Let's hope I don't read a report of any salt water fishing north of noosa until Mid day 1st feb

Rediculous

[crazywalrus]

To be honest I really do not have anytime to sit and read slagging posts from other members of what is by and large an extremely friendly and informative forum.

For anyone who has met and fished with me, I'm extremely cautious when fishing to ensure any fish I target are within season, of legal size and are caught on legal grounds!

On a side note for anyone who has read my previous posts and reports on catching a legal jack which has been a serious ambition of mine this summer and so when the opportunity arose to fish a spot that was 95% sure to hook a big jack and the opportunity to meet yet another generous and kind member of the community I was not about to turn it down.

May I just make an appology to those members that believe I may have been targeting barra, NEXT TIME I'LL GRAB A MARKER PEN AND WRITE "JACK FOOD" on the side of my live mullet!

I know my sizes, I know my rules, I carry an orange ruler everywhere I go for the extremely rare occasion when I keep a fish!!

Let's hope I don't read a report of any salt water fishing north of noosa until Mid day 1st feb

Rediculous

Hi Callum. - I have been reading this post with interest however I did not expect your response. I do not see this post as slagging you. The initial Author even started a new post. It has been a good debate up until you came into the post. Tio_Tony, maturely responded and made a lot of sense. They did not highjack your post. Strange that you would respond in such a manner.

I agree with most of the posters with their points. I was brought up in North Qld and appreciate it is difficult to limit your cacth away from Barra in closed season. Where the Author and others and the authorities have the main issue is taking the fish from the water.

You would have got a lot more respect if you started your post a little different.

[Do$tylz]

^^ I can see why P&H feels like he's being targeted. You're not mate. Like everyone has said, there's been a bit of it on here in the last few months and I think you're report unfortunately was the straw that broke the camels back.

Ted - Give the guy a chance for most of us that have met everyone in this thread, we all know that everyone here is posting in the thread are doing it with best intentions and not trying to stir it up. For a relative newy that might not be so obvious

I think the general consensus is that everyone agrees with abiding by rules and regs. Its more the do you take pics and report on it?

I think I'm on both sides. Don't report it because it just stirs up a lot of emotion and it does send the wrong message of potentialy illegal stuff. But at the same time if its a fish of a lifetime that you were not targetting but it happened to be in closed season, I'd probably take a photo myself as well.

Its a tough thing but I'd suggest to anyone else, if you happen to catch a fish in closed season, no matter how awesome. Just avoid reporting on it.

[madmullet]

To be honest I really do not have anytime to sit and read slagging posts from other members of what is by and large an extremely friendly and informative forum.

For anyone who has met and fished with me, I'm extremely cautious when fishing to ensure any fish I target are within season, of legal size and are caught on legal grounds!

On a side note for anyone who has read my previous posts and reports on catching a legal jack which has been a serious ambition of mine this summer and so when the opportunity arose to fish a spot that was 95% sure to hook a big jack and the opportunity to meet yet another generous and kind member of the community I was not about to turn it down.

May I just make an appology to those members that believe I may have been targeting barra, NEXT TIME I'LL GRAB A MARKER PEN AND WRITE "JACK FOOD ONLY" on the side of my live mullet!

I know my sizes, I know my rules, I carry an orange ruler everywhere I go for the extremely rare occasion when I keep a fish!!

Let's hope I don't read a report of any salt water fishing north of noosa until Mid day 1st feb

Rediculous

LOLOLOLOL

[Cheyne_jones]

To be honest I really do not have anytime to sit and read slagging posts from other members of what is by and large an extremely friendly and informative forum.

For anyone who has met and fished with me, I'm extremely cautious when fishing to ensure any fish I target are within season, of legal size and are caught on legal grounds!

On a side note for anyone who has read my previous posts and reports on catching a legal jack which has been a serious ambition of mine this summer and so when the opportunity arose to fish a spot that was 95% sure to hook a big jack and the opportunity to meet yet another generous and kind member of the community I was not about to turn it down.

May I just make an appology to those members that believe I may have been targeting barra, NEXT TIME I'LL GRAB A MARKER PEN AND WRITE "JACK FOOD ONLY" on the side of my live mullet!

I know my sizes, I know my rules, I carry an orange ruler everywhere I go for the extremely rare occasion when I keep a fish!!

Let's hope I don't read a report of any salt water fishing north of noosa until Mid day 1st feb

Rediculous

LOLOLOLOL

Is this why I am struggling with the jacks lately? I am taking a marker to all my lures tonight, thanks for the tip boys!

[pancakes_and_haggis]

I think theres a difference between going out and fishing closed season fish with the intention of reporting good catches and using the excuse that they were retuned to the water unharmed after a photo ,,,,and fishing an area where there is the possibility of bi-catch

Some fish would respond to different baits and so using specific baits in a closed season strike zone would obviously be classed as bad practice, I just don't understand why people can't comprehend that certain fish in extremely common circumstances can become unwanted bi-catch through no fault what so ever of the angler.

In this circumstance I see no problem with a quick snap to add to a report.

To get some idea for the future... In my specific case wod people rather see an off season fish being unhooked on straight jaggy concrete or a smooth wet brag mat?

At the same time would people rather hear of a fish that was cut with a length of 80lb leader the height of the wharf or landed and unhooked ??

Sorry to be case specific but I guess I had to ask??

[ellicat]

I agree with you. The law doesn't though. Even with their science. Like I said before, the rule is out of kilter with reality.

[tiotony]

Any barra I inadvertently catch in closed season shall now be reported by me as "the fish whose name we do not speak", and the spot as "fishing at the corner of those of who we do not speak of"

[rayke1938]

" Also holding some fish horizontally by the jaw with the body unsupported isn't a good practice. Correct fish handling is another topic someway may consider starting. "

Or by the eyes.

Cheers

Ray

[ellicat]

Avatar change coming up

[rayke1938]

A barra caught in a mixed species fishery will release the same if held for a pic and then released the same as if it had've been released without the pic. Either way reproduction (if applicable to that fish) would have been interrupted. Big deal - they are not endangered and are supported by re-stocking technology and are widespread.

The fasrer and gentley they are released the less chance there is of interfering with their breeding.

The wording of the act is "immediate"

Ask your missus how she would still feel romantic after being hooked in the gob, hauled up in the air,spread out on a bit of wet plastic measured and photographed.

The only barra in the wild are supported by restocking is by escapees from dams in overflow events.

Cheers

Ray

[crazywalrus]

^^ I can see why P&H feels like he's being targeted. You're not mate. Like everyone has said, there's been a bit of it on here in the last few months and I think you're report unfortunately was the straw that broke the camels back.

Ted - Give the guy a chance for most of us that have met everyone in this thread, we all know that everyone here is posting in the thread are doing it with best intentions and not trying to stir it up. For a relative newy that might not be so obvious

Point Taken Henry :blush:

Look I understand the excitement and I have made mistakes and will do in the future as well. The Issue is whether it be right or wrong is that the DPI have clarified the rule in conversations with such members as Ray and it is clearly the situation where you are not supposed to take them from the water. I understand that the best release may require the fish to be taken from the water. I had to take a 2m Cat shark out of the water a while back to untangle it from the braid so it could survive. what I did not do is take a photo of the >1.5m Shark and post it up here. That is the issue I think. I was pretty happy to have caught such a beast and it was a lot bigger than the PB I had.

By posting up pictures in closed season or no-take species it muddies that water on what is correct. The DPI/fisheries clearly state that the fish should be released as soon as possible and where possible not removed from the water. In a way to post a picture of such a fish encourages folk to go out and give it a go in my opinion.

Surely this debate is a good one and gives people information. I agree in the post that P&H is highlighting it is impossible to go out for a fish and guarantee that you will not catch a Barra and you should not be stopped from fishing on the off chance you may catch one, it is what you do from there that makes the difference.

[aussie123]

It is legal to remove a fish from the water for the purpose of de hooking even in closed waters or a closed season by means of a net or gaff hook.

The law does not state that the fish cannot be removed from the water.

[crazywalrus]

A barra caught in a mixed species fishery will release the same if held for a pic and then released the same as if it had've been released without the pic. Either way reproduction (if applicable to that fish) would have been interrupted. Big deal - they are not endangered and are supported by re-stocking technology and are widespread.The fasrer and gentley they are released the less chance there is of interfering with their breeding.

The wording of the act is "immediate"

Ask your missus how she would still feel romantic after being hooked in the gob, hauled up in the air,spread out on a bit of wet plastic measured and photographed.

The only barra in the wild are supported by restocking is by escapees from dams in overflow events.

Cheers

Ray

Hmmm I had heard that Ellicat's Missus was into a little Latex :evil: and I am sure a photo is out of the question :evil: :whistle:

[rayke1938]

I think that a simple solution would be to agree that if a fish was inadvertently caught in closed season would be to either not report it at all.

I am afraid that I cannot agree with the statement that there is insufficient information out there re the fishing regulations there are booklets avail at all the bait & tackle and boating stores that I go to.

Even our local BP servo has them next to the bait freezer.

There was a statement from Tony Ham from fisheries a while back during bass closed season that roughly stated that if you caught one restricted species fish in a location and you released it the fisheries officer would accept that but if you continued to fish that location and you caught more restricted fish you would be in deep dodo.

Cheers

Ray

[AFO]

We appreciate the debate, and it is highlighting some points which in the coming years will be probably clarified further by the DPI, however please all ensure it is carried out in a friendly manner. Please don't make make personal remarks against any members and keep any discussion within the spirit of the site. Thanks