Quick action by Recfishwest has been able to resolve the anomaly of two vastly different sets of recreational fishing rules in Commonwealth and State waters of the Ningaloo Marine Park.
With the current Commonwealth management plan due to expire on 2 July 2009, recreational fishing in the entire Ningaloo Marine Park will now be undertaken in accordance with WA recreational fishing rules.
Through a process that didn't involve stakeholders, the Commonwealth applied a collection of rules to the waters of the Ningaloo Marine Park from three to 12 nautical miles out, that were incompatible with the State rules in the adjacent Marine Park. An example included limiting recreational fishers to only one rod with one hook per person as well as restrictions ranging from the type of bait and processing of catch. They also did not allow provisions for anglers to travel to deeper water outside 12nm, where State rules also applied.
“Recfishwest’s discussions with recreational fishers indicated that almost every angler in Ningaloo would have been in breach of these rules. Almost all anglers carry a rod rigged for mackerel trolling, and at least one other rod rigged for fishing for demersal species.” Mr Kane Moyle, Policy Officer Recfishwest, said today.
“This is a victory for common sense.” Mr Moyle said.
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We'll be helping clean up the ASI Groyne in Henderson on Sunday morning, July 5th, along with others from Recfishwest and the Western Angler forum. More information on that next week but if you can help out, that would be great. Many hands make light work.
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METROPOLITAN
Bluewater Tackle World staffers are showing the way during the rough stuff, Melville’s Matt Garwood landing pink snapper on successive nights, his biggest 7.35kg, caught off North Mole. Huge stingrays and gummy sharks contributed to the night’s activities, and there are large numbers of squid in the area, with big (heavy) jigs required to contend with the conditions. There are also heaps of herring around North Mole, with the South Mole excellent for garfish and squid. Fremantle Harbour makes an ideal spot to fulfil fishing urges in bad weather, yellowtail and garfish the main catch, squid also in the lower Swan and king prawns continue their run to sea during run out tides. Some black bream activity occurred at Deep Water Point. Moore River holds some nice black bream.
Bluewater Morley’s Karl Rosenow bagged eight squid from near the Fishermans Harbour, saying there were nooks and crannies where you can shelter during tougher times. Mindarie Marina rock walls turned on some tailor.
Boat activity is weather dependent but some pink snapper fanatics found good fish inside the One Mile Reef between Ocean Reef and Hillarys.
ABROLHOS ISLANDS
Charter boat catches read like a list of species available in the territory. Grant Gardner was aboard one boat where jewfish, large numbers of pink snapper, big baldchin groper, red throat emperor, spangled emperor to 80cm, many squid, yellowfin tuna, spanish mackerel, coral trout to 70cm caught on the troll and shark mackerel were decked. Samson fish added to the list but amberjack were conspicuous by their absence. Dave Buttfield, in the area after some film footage for Hooked TV, hooked up on a sailfish while using a Gulp jerkbait.
CARNARVON
Ben Smith from Tel-O-Mac reckons the fishing was good before recent weather intervened, with Quobba firing for cobia and tuna, and spangled emperor biting well along that coast. Closer to town and both jetty and shore anglers have seen an improvement in the tailor and mulloway fishing, dinghy users scoring well on blue manna crabs and squid, parties in larger boats venturing out wide coming across vast numbers of pink snapper.
EXMOUTH
Spanish mackerel are just one highlight for Exmouth fishers, good mackies coming from inside the Gulf and on the west side of the peninsula, Helby Bank notable, black marlin and many sailfish in that country too. Try water anywhere from 40 to 100m for the marlin and sails. Bottom bouncing is rewarding, spangled emperor biting exceptionally well outside of Tantabiddy Reef.
Squid are widespread, both inside the Gulf and within the reef at Tantabiddy, whiting and yellowfin bream plentiful for shore anglers.
