veck

This wouldn’t have happened if I had been sent a reminder that the licence was going to expire. I think we pay enough money to receive a reminder letter in the mail, dont you. I’m also amazed fishoes have sympathy for a dept that charges you to fish. How quickly we get use to getting ripped of and even say thank you. Sure we get sticker and little colourful booklets, I really feel im getting my money worth now. We are the most taxed countries in the world, any opportunity by the Govt to shave a little more from of our incomes is exploited.

Dear Fishoes Two Sundays back I took my boat out from Port Kembla harbour. A few hours into some fine fishing a Maritime boat approached. I had to provide evidence that the boat was open water appropriate. This all went without a hitch. Then this ferrel red head bush pig asked to see my fish. This was odd as Maritime had nothing to do with fisheries. I put up a stink and then the cow showed me her fisheries ID. Both departments were working together on this day. I proceeded to pull out my fishing licence and provide it to the cow. Once she obtained my licence a huge grin appeared on her freaky face. She informed me that the licence had ran out a few months previous. When I asked for some concession, guaranteeing that a new licence would be purchased the following day, she smiled again and said “don’t feel so bad you’re not the only one I have booked today”. I replied “well this makes me feel a whole f####n lot better”. And we left it at that. $200 dollars gone like that. My grip is why don’t fisheries send a reminder letter that your licence is about to expire just like every other dept that requires a licence. When you buy a 3 year licence, you put it in your wallet and forget about it. Just another way to rip off the fishing community. Bloody Rude.

Hi Fishoes Went camping over the weekend at Lake St Claire, targeted bass & yellow belly to no avail. We were unable to get live worms due to a bass comp, all the worms had been purchased. Tried catching grass hoppers and other local bugs, somehow I don’t remember the bugs being so quick when I was younger. Gave the plastics a go, we managed a few bites but unable to get one out. Had a one good bite on the bank using some chicken that fell of the BBQ, lots of drag and then nothing. In any case had a few BBQ's, drank lots of beer , swimming and laughs with mates. I don’t mind this fresh water fishing for a change. p.s. couldnt get any tips from the locals, don't blame them really

Hi Fishoes Last Friday went on a late night fishing trip targeting jews on the Georges river. Left home about 8.30pm, was anchoring around 9pm, brought my portable TV on the boat and watched the Bulldogs go down, could things get worse. The answer is yes, the sonar for most of the night didn’t stop beeping, all around the boat fish were jumping around us to the extent that on a few occasions were felt the splash of the water. Had slimes, pilchards and squid for bait, the fish were everywhere but couldn’t get them interested even with some intense bur lying. Left at 4.30am for home, final body count was 1 huge eel. The previous week a mate of mine scored a 15kg Jew from the river in the same spot using the same bait. Better luck next time.

Hi Fishoes Went to the NSW maritime service at Rozelle to purchase some maps. While there I discovered they are giving away free VHS tapes on water safety, the rules and managing deep sea situations and other water situations. I picked up two VHS’s and a whole lot of other bits and pieces for free. They are upgrading to DVD’s.

Hi Fishoes Does anyone recommend any quality maps, preferably in hard copy, showing satellite pictures with water depths? I have been using this crapy Sydney / Hawkesbury fishing spots book for far too long and the maps are pretty poor. The map book doesn’t need to include fishing spots or targeting the fishing consumer, but just a very clear description of the NSW coast. Been checking out the fishing shops to no avail. Any help would be appreciated.

waite till the next boat expo at darling harbour, you can see it all under one roof and compare prices

Try Coniston beach down the gong, catching whitting and bream most sessions, however there was a heap of weed on Sunday that resulted in zip.

Hi Roberta Thanks for the info, looking forward to going home and sharing the document with my son. Will let you now how we went. Cheers Veck

thanks fellas

Hi Fishoes Been catching my live bait for a while, nippers, crabs, potty mullet, ytail, slimies , pippies etc. It’s a great way to get some fresh bait, increase your chance and involve the kids. Was down South West Rocks diving 2 weeks ago, in the arvos was watching locals pull out these sand worms using pippies as thumb bait and a stockings with some old fish. They made it look so easy. I had a go while on holidays with no luck, last week went down to Coniston beach for at least 3 hours with zip. Both my son and I can attract them out of the wash and even plant the thumb bait infront of them so they raise their heads but when we try to get a grip they retract to fast. Anyone now what im doing wrong, help and hints would be much appreciated.

was at SWR a few weeks ago diving. Locals were catching whiting of the beaches with sand worms. Had a go at catching the sandworms, but no luck.

well done mate going out with my son tomorrow to the bay, hope we have the same luck cheers veck

I have called a mate called Boris who claims he ran out of bait fishing in botany so he ganged up his lunch and pulled out a 18kg blue fin tuna, he swears they love Hungarian salami no bullshit ill ask him to post the photos

ROME and age of empires, just god the lord of the rings strategy game, cant get of it

These fish are worth a fortune ... at least $3 million each, says their owner. The Australian tuna kingpin Hagen Stehr is holding nine of the 140-kilogram southern bluefin tuna in an onshore hatchery in South Australia. Mr Stehr derived the $3 million a head book value by looking at the breeding potential of the fish and the cost of keeping them. He said that food alone costs his company, Clean Seas, between $1000 and $2000 a day. "We've had the fish for seven years, and each fish can make ... millions of tuna eggs. And you know what tuna is worth, so really, how much is that fish worth? If someone would give me, for those nine fish, $10 million, I couldn't sell it," Mr Stehr said. The $6 million hatchery, located in Arno Bay, has been designed specifically for breeding the tuna, in order to cater for rapidly increasing customer demand and reduce the impact of overfishing. Moving the tuna to the new hatchery was a major ordeal, involving a helicopter, divers and a team of scientists. They were previously being held in sea pens off Eyre Peninsula. The tuna were airlifted to the hatchery one at a time last week, and pinpoint piloting skills were required to ensure the fish weren't put under significant stress. "A number of organisations in other countries have already tried and failed to transfer tuna to onshore facilities," said Mr Stehr. The Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry lists the status of the southern bluefin tuna, which are found in waters off South Australia and eastern Australia, as being "overfished". It says the "spawning stock [is] severely depleted and current catches severely limit [the] probability of rebuilding". The Government's plan is to "rebuild spawning stock to [its] 1980 level by 2020", and Mr Stehr said his farm will help achieve this target by taking fewer fish from the wild. "We have the potential to duplicate Australia's 5200-tonne tuna quota in a decade, without impacting on wild tuna stocks," Mr Stehr said. Patrick Hone, the executive director of the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, says the hatchery will also help meet global demand for tuna, which is currently outpacing the amount that can be caught in the wild. "The demand for seafood is rising. Currently world fisheries are at their sustainable limit. If we are to meet demand we have to get alternative seafood, and aquaculture [breeding fish on a fish farm] offers the best opportunity for that," said Mr Hone. The tuna will be monitored all day to ensure they adapt well to their new environment. Entry to the site will be restricted until the tuna begin to spawn, which is expected to occur in February. "[We've got] people sleeping next to the tank," said Mr Stehr. Southern bluefin tuna were last in the news in October, when an investigation was launched into Japan's illegal netting of up to $8 billion worth of the fish. The investigation found that Japan had overcaught up to 178,000 tonnes over the past 20 years. As a result of the scandal, Senator Eric Abetz, the Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation, issued a statement last week that said Japan's allocated catch had been more than halved for the next five years, from 6065 to 3000 tonnes.

i got a few undersized kings at the hot water outlet two weekends ago.

great post

For all recreational / sport fishing people I hope you do keep this debate going Bob. There are enough recreational fishing people in NSW to make our politicians stand up and listen for the vote factor. We don’t need to align ourselves with the pros or trawlers. I would like to see fishing continue as it is, up and down the NSW coast, unrestricted. Nothing shits me more then when I am fishing the Hawkesbury or up at Foster and trawlers are scooping up everything that moves. There is no foresight or future planning with that action. Over fishing is why the Indonesians are travelling thousands of KM’s in shabby boats into Aust waters because there fish stock is destroyed. Then you have some YANK saying it’s sustainable, sorry but you can’t have it both ways. Sport and Recreational fishoes have enough numbers and clout to stand on their own.

Alan doesn’t give a rats arse about our marine parks, his concern is to generate enough emotion about a topic to see his ratings increase, the blokes been in so many scandals his opinion and credibility is zip. Scientists are paid to do research, depending who pays them, this will influence the report, why do we need some Yank telling us how to conserve our marine resources. Why couldn’t Alan find a CSIRO scientist to discuss this matter? Because Asia & Indian nations want to decimate there fish stock, are we now to follow suite. I have no sympathy for the fish trawlers just as I don’t have sympathy for the loggers, some industries aren’t sustainable and need to be faded out. Why not employ these groups in fish & tree farming. However I am concerned about the recreational fishing sport. I would be inclined to support and do what I can to sustain this great sport, as I don’t see it affecting fish stocks under the current regulations. I think sport-fishing community needs to distance itself from trawling and professional fishing industries, we aren’t on the same side.

Greetings Fishoes Went to Foster last weekend with the family, did some great dives around Seal Rocks, had some very close encounters with 3 local grey nurses and a blue groper. Also saw lots of morwong, whiting and snapper during the dives. I can understand how Foster has a reputation for big game fish, there was bait fish everywhere. On the last day went fishing with my son at Foster beach. There was a few fishoes with breams and flatties in their bucket. We fished for about 3 hours and caught a heap of breams, only 2 were around the 30cm mark, but it kept us busy all morning. A few of the locals I spoke to had some outrageous stories of massive Jews caught in the last few weeks of the beach late at night. Not sure if they were having a bit of fun with the tourist. Fantastic place to fish, swim, dive and have great time with the family. Sorry, can't work out how to attach photos of the dives

Hunts marien on King Georges rd does a great job by me.

I too had a similar experience 6 odd years ago and haven’t been on a charter boat since, we were promised deepwater fishing and ended up getting anchor a few km’s outside botany bay, the wind picked up and we ended up spending the larges part of our time at the hot water outlet. Body count was a morwong, and a few just legal snappers. Just two Saturdays back while fishing in my boat in Botany a charter boat spent a good few hours at the hot water outlet, you have to ask yourself what a large, open water boat is doing in botany bay. Anyhow I have mates that swear by charter boats and had a great time, especially those who don’t mind getting on turps.

You have be careful interpreting this type of information, even scientists and other so called professional receive funding / money for there research from sectors that want to influence public opinion, for there own gain. Many of the large species of fish are migratory, and even if they are protected in Aust that’s not stoping our Asian neighbours drift netting. In any case I don’t need an expert to tell me things are ok, I am in my late thirties and I have seen huge changes since I was a teenager fishing the Hawkesbury, Botany and other local waterways.