Bluewater Tackle World News for January 31st

Crab fishing prosecutions have more than doubled in Mandurah and Fisheries Officers are concerned about a large number of offenders being caught with

undersize crabs.

Compliance Manager John Breeden said crabbing rules were in place in the Peel Harvey’s iconic fishery to help keep it sustainable and people who breached the fishing laws were spoiling it for the majority of fishers who did the right thing.

“There can be many undersize crabs in the estuary at this time of year and those fishers that take undersize crabs, or those who take more crabs than the limits allow, are ignoring the important social value of the fishery,” Mr Breeden said.

“Many local residents are also concerned and they have been phoning the Department of Fisheries FISHWATCH line 1800 815 507 to report illegal crab fishing activity.

“Since 15 December 2008 we have begun 42 prosecutions for serious offences (up from 15 for the same period in 2007/08) and also issued 108 infringements (up from 50 this time last year).

The minimum legal size limit for blue swimmer crabs is 127mm across the widest part of the shell. There is a bag limit of 10 blue swimmer crabs per fisher per day and a daily boat limit of 20 per boat when two or more people are on the vessel.

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From the Toronto Sun: Fatty fish -- salmon, sardines, mackerel, etc. -- contain large quantities of omega-3 fatty acids, fats more and more recognized for their positive effects on general health. However, particular attention should be paid to the way we prepare these fish to preserve their beneficial properties.

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fats that our bodies are incapable of producing and that must therefore come from our diet. Unlike other types of fats that are commonly found in our foods, there are fewer food sources of omega-3 fatty acids and it is important to know them well to ensure we have an adequate intake:

Vegetable origin omega-3 fatty acids: These short-chain omega-3 fatty acids are mainly found in flax seeds, chia seeds and certain nuts (especially walnuts), and have several beneficial functions, such as their anti-inflammatory action. People who have a diet rich in these fats have a much lower risk of suffering from cardiovascular diseases.

Animal omega-3 fatty acids: Eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexanoic (DHA) acids are the main fatty acids of the long-chain omega-3 variety. These are mainly found in fatty fish (salmon, sardines, mackerel). However, contrary to beliefs, seafood (shrimps, scallops) contains fewer quantities of EPA and DHA and cannot be considered a good source of omega-3.

It is important to choose the best sources of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids because an impressive number of studies have shown that these fats have protective effects against various disorders, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, loss of cognitive functions and certain types of cancer (breast cancer, colon cancer).

Moreover, the low prevalence of cardiovascular diseases observed among certain populations, including the Inuit and Japanese, is largely due to their high consumption of fish or marine mammals and thus of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids.

Japanese ingest, on average, almost 1 g of EPA and DHA per day and have a coronary heart disease mortality rate almost 90% lower than that of inhabitants of regions where people eat less fish, such as North America. According to certain studies, the protective effect of these fats can even be observed with smaller quantities. A modest consumption of 250 mg to 500 mg of EPA and DHA per day, which is equivalent to about half a serving of salmon, reduces by about 40% the mortality rate due to heart diseases.

Although adding fatty fish to the menu is a simple way to increase our intake of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, we must keep in mind that these fats are fragile and can be destroyed during high-temperature cooking processes, such as frying.

A recent study showed that people who consumed two servings per week of fatty fish cooked conventionally had an omega-3 fatty acid blood level two times higher than those who didn't eat fish. People who consumed fried fish showed no increase of their omega-3 fatty acid blood level.

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The Perth Game Fishing Club's WA Open is on next weekend, and it's not too late to join in the fun. Check out the entry form here for all the details.

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Here’s this weekend's Sunday Times fishing news, with a bit of extra stuff...

PERTH METROPOLITAN

Good numbers of small mulloway, fish around two or three kilos, hit the beaches in northern suburbs waters this week. Tailor chasing has been reasonable right along the coast, Swanbourne and Floreat Drains firing, baits coming out tops during evening sessions, metal lures a hit at dawn. There are plenty of little tailor from San Remo and northward, but you need to watch their legal size. Herring fishing is patchy, skippy around some offshore reefs. Woodman Point yielded herring and garfish, Pinaroo Point a herring hot-spot.

Bluewater Mindarie's Al Hunton caught jewfish, pink snapper and baldchin out from Two Rocks, finding 28m of water the magic depth. Dave Woolford also boated a whopper jewfish. Bluewater Scarborough's Josh Thompson is spearheading the fishing for pink snapper in relatively shallow water near reef, the Three Mile one of his favourites, using soft plastics and having a ball. His latest efforts included a 78cm fish, Thompson usually releasing the snapper. There are quite a lot of bronze whalers and hammerhead sharks at the back of the Three Mile. You'll have to talk to Josh direct to prise more information out of him.

Graeme Stewart and Joff Weston have made another raid on the FADs, again finding the mahi mahis very skittish. Stewart nailed his first big dolphin fish, of about five kilos, using a Squidgy Flick Bait and on his first cast. The majority of the FADs are quiet.

The Swan is proving a bonanza for crabbing parties, with excellent size blue mannas widespread. Karl Rosenow of Bluewater Tackle World Morley reckons a wading session in water adjacent to the Freeway around Como, with fly or lures, is productive for flathead. Some big herring came from the Swan around Mosman Bay, and yellowfin whiting took a liking to very small popper lures at the likes of Point Roe. 

KALBARRI

The Murchison is turning on good bream action, with fish up to 40cm common, quite a number of small mulloway there too. Blue manna crab numbers are patchy but improving while mud crabs, although plentiful, are mostly undersize.

Surf beaches are terrific for tailor, Chinamans, Syphons Road and Back Beach among better spots, mulloway scarce nearer town but quad bikers are bringing a few back from well to the north. Poppers have enticed tailor throughout the day, mulie baits okay early morning and evening.

Boat outings were hindered by strong winds in the area, although a couple of fellows hit a pink snapper school, catching four fish in five minutes, the snapper around six and seven kilos. Charter skipper Steve Wiseman witnessed a free swimming black marlin of about 80-90kg not far from the river mouth, and there's no shortage of yellowfin tuna in the area.  Many large bait balls are attracting pelagics.     

ABROLHOS

Yellowfin tuna are prevalent around the Abrolhos Islands and a fair number of spanish mackerel have shown up. Bottom fishing is outstanding, baldchin, coral trout and jewfish among the many species delighting anglers lucky enough to fish there.

SHARK BAY

Winds to 40 knots have kept boats from venturing out, but reports suggest there is plenty of pelagic activity in the region, spanish mackerel and yellowfin tuna predominant. Jason Rushton and mates had their boat outings curtailed but still had some fun catching whiting and flathead while wading the shore.

EXMOUTH

This week's Exmouth-only newsletter is on the site here, with an interesting pic of a red emperor like most people won't have seen them. There'll be a new newsletter up on the site next week.

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Bluewater Tackle World News comes from Bluewater, 21 Scarborough Beach Road, Scarborough, Western Australia - phone 08 9245 1313 - www.bluewater.net.au

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