PaddyT

Sure, fisheries should be the primary management tool, but what would be wrong with a localised , temporary closure if there was reason to do it- eg a habitat recovery. Or after a catastrophic event eg oil spill , extreme weather event. Whilst in general I am against closures based on lines on a map- I could see reasons why they shouldnt be excluded from a proper management plan.But again this would be expensive to manage.

problem as I view it Jon is that once we are locked out of an area- then we are locked out forever, are lockouts a fisheries tool, or simply a way that government says to the populace "Look at US saving the environment" without actually doing much at all?. When Bob Carr announced a massive bunch of NP's in the 1990's he didnt provide a single cent for proper management of those new Parks. They have become havens for ferals, blackberries and lantana, and access by $WD's, hunters and other who used to use the "crown land". Ive got no problems with Marine Parks or even lockouts if they were actually developed and used scientifically. Why not have a multifaceted system - Closed seasons for certain areas/closed seasons for certain fishes, anchoring bans, reduction in catch limits, even "rest periods" for certain bits of habitat ie temporary shutdowns on parts of reef or seagrass or whatever to allow it to rehabilitate. People are seeing the Sydney Marine Park as a restriction of freedom but if a proper complex (and probably expensive) system was brought into play- then guess what most people would buy into it. Govt wants to do this on the cheap and without getting the major stakeholder (and major potential loser in the whole matter ) onside. Rec fishing can coexist with Marine Parks but as they stand now- I am agin them, hope to see a few Raiders at the rally on the 27th

Dont forget about the rally folks 27th September

Get the biggest and most up to date unit you can afford, the Hook is a pretty basic unit- even buying a second hand HDS Gen 2 would be a better option

Done

Still kings and marlin and trag to be got there, tuna are gone but thats because of the smashing they got and still get in the recruitment areas in the Sth Pacific purse seine fishery. Kings are on the improve every year since the removal of floating fish traps.

Regulations from the DPI website Hand-hauled net Maximum length of 6 metres. Mesh size between 30mm-36mm measured across the diagonal. Must not be staked or set, or joined or placed with any other net. Must be continuously and manually pulled through the water and not used as a stationary net. Hauling lines of up to a maximum of 2 metres in length may be used. Any fish caught which are subject to a size limit must be immediately returned to the water unharmed. Scissors (push) net Must be attached to a scissor-type frame Length of the lead or bottom line between the ends of poles must be no longer than 2.75 metres. Mesh size between 30mm-36mm measured across the diagonal. Must not be staked or set, or joined or placed with any other net. Must be continuously and manually propelled and not used as a stationary net. Must be operated by one person only. Only one net per person is permitted at any time. Any fish caught which are subject to a size limit must be immediately returned to the water unharmed. Scoop net Maximum diameter of hoop or ring 0.6 metres. Minimum mesh size 20mm measured across the diagonal. Drop (length of net) no more than 1.25 metres. Must be used by hand and not staked or set. Must not be joined or placed with any other net. Only one net per person at any time. Other fish caught while fishing for prawns may be kept, however, bag and size limits apply. Prohibited You are not permitted to: Fish in waters that are closed to fishing. Use any methods/gear to take fish or invertebrates that are not specified in permitted methods. Take or be in possession of fish or invertebrates in excess of the bag limit or of a size outside the legal size limits. All prohibited size fish must be released immediately. You must not hold prohibited size fish or fish in excess of the legal bag limit in a live well or use them for bait even if they are injured or dead on capture. If you have purchased fish or bait from a commercial vendor, retain the receipt to present to an I&I NSW Fisheries Officer. Take, attempt to take, harm or be in possession of threatened or protected species. Use a chemical or explosive device to take or assist to take fish. Use a cast net in NSW waters. Possess excess fishing gear in, on, or adjacent to waters. Sell any recreational catch. Interfere with commercial fishers or fishing gear. Alter the length of a fish or invertebrate by filleting/ shucking and/ or removing the head/ shell until well away from the water. This rule does not apply at areas normally used for cleaning fish such as boat ramp cleaning tables, if the fish are for immediate consumption or immediate use as bait, or for fish that do not have a legal length. You may clean fish by gilling and gutting only. Trans-ship fish from one boat to another (except specified bait species, squid and cuttlefish for use as bait only).

Fair call Jim- my suggestion of movable lockouts was simply to address that I am not against looking after our oceans and fish stocks but simply to illustrate that the way this has been done is simply to whack some lines on a map and exclude fishos because we "are a key threat", the real issues lie with commercial overfishing,habitat degredation and poor development plans in the creeks and tributries of the river systems that run to the sea. The science is very questionable thats for sure .

Respectfully Jim, I am going to have to disagree with you on this one- part of the problem is this- the lockout zones can be changed with a tick of a pen and I cant imagine that a Labor/Green govt wouldnt do exactly that. I will also add that as usual- we get absolutlely nothing in exchange for a loss in fishable area-no extra artificial reefs, no extra fisheries patrols - zip. This is a one sided "negotiation" , by filling in the survey and joining the FB page you will add weight to at least getting a substantial compromise. I too have nothing against marine parks persay- BUT i dont view rec fishing as a key "threatening process" - we are part of the solution when it comes to improving fish stocks and the general environment. Sure have lock out zones- but move them every 5 years (allowing stocks to locally replenish) and when they are lockouts- lock everyone out - divers/swimmers the lot. I think the idea that this proposal will stop here is wrong- the greens and anti's will want us shut down in as many places as they can.

Hey Berley guts- Starlo has asked for a more civil tone on the page and I think calmer heads will prevail, I will point out however that Sydney will be the litmus test for those who wish to destroy our chosen recreation- they got the marine parks into the more "isolated" parts of the state first and are now trying the most populous part- if they get it through the restrictions will ramp up-everywhere! Cheers

Umm-this has nothing to do with personal beliefs , this is about preventing a politically motivated attempt at a vote grab by an uninformed and ignorant state government. I am a fisho (and a hunter for that matter) and I will protect my recreation from those who wish to take it away from me, however i will not bring other aspects of personal life or religion or sexuality or any other crap into the argument- I suggest we all do the same. Politicians of all colours are interested in one thing- getting reelected- if we can convince them that this will harm their chances - they will cave in. Keep the conversation civil!

Doesnt look like an outrigger mount- no splines or locking mechanism- more likely a bimini mount.

Good stuff Derek, this whole thing might actually be the wakeup call that recreational fishing needs in Australia. The byelection in Wagga in 2 weeks will be a close run thing and will help our cause if the SFFP can get up. The whole MP thing is not about protecting our oceans- its about Green preferences in the inner city seats- remember- my spot today, your tommorrow!

Ok there is a bit happening on FB- there is a page called "Stop the Lockout"- join it. Here is a copy of the email i sent to my local member and to Niall Blair the Minister-can i ask everyone to cut and past and send to their local member and to Niall Blair as well. Tommorrow we hit Gladys Dear Kevin, I am writing to express my dismay with the proposed recreational fishing lockouts in the newly proposed Hawkesbury Bioregion Marine Park. If this goes ahead the LNP will lose my vote and many like me. The level of outrage in the recreational Fishing community to these proosed lockouts is palpable and getting stronger every day. I look forward to your response

Good stuff - and contact your local memeber and let them know you will change your vote if this goes ahead

Notice that Rec Fishing is listed as a "threat", ironic when you consider how much rec fishing puts into conservation , licence fees etc and every rec fishing haven up and down the NSW coast has seen fishing dramatically improve since the removal of nets- remember the Greens and LAbour are our enemy (Greens because - well they are green, Labour becuase they are pandering to the Greens and have forgotten that fishing is the pastime of the working man) and the Libs are our enemy too- because they think we are the great unwashed and spoil waterfront property values. Say no to every part of the proposal that restricts rec fishing.

The EPA doesnt have much power in NSW unfortunatley but it makes sense , more concrete = more uncontrolled runoff with no natural filtration from soil, plants etc- but dont worry a marine park and locking rec fisho's out will fix that!

You are dead right there. One of my best kingfish spots is in the firing line which pisses me off but the real point is that this is just window dressing as you say- lets look like we are doing something for the environment and go on destroying the Hawkesbury catchment, wrecking the last koala and 'roo habitat around Sydney etc etc. Build more apartment blocks and call our selves gren- Politician =Hypocrite- anyway the only thing that works with these t!@ds is contact their office and tell them you will change your vote if they support the Rec Fishing lockouts. Good Luck to everyone , as I said before its my spot today, yours tommorrow.

Did you read the legislation- pros are no longer allowed to take undersized fish- previously they were- so now the abilty of pros to take undersized fish is stopped- sheesh!

Time to get in with your objections fella's the outline of the park is in https://www.marine.nsw.gov.au/key-initiatives/hawkesbury-shelf-marine-assessment. Looks like Wedding Cake Island is gone, large chunk of the central coast from Forresters up to Bataue Bay out to the 80M depth contour, ring your local member and scream at them. If its not your spot today, it will be tommorrow, will go into the proposal in the next few days.

You are right but its my understanding that some pro's were actually targetting their 10 undersized jewies- at least that will stop, and you can only imagine that if they were targetting them a lot more were ending up dead back in the river. The new regs are a good step in the right direction

Thats an excellent pig for blackfishing gear-well done. They are an absolute bugger of a thing when they take over a wash and you only have the blackfish gear with you! The float "explodes" downwards rather than nicely disappears and zing , snap no more terminal tackle.

Good one-enjoy! Keep asking questions and you should get a lot of help here

Ok cool, side or center console the way to go, gives you allround casting and minimal crap in the way. Have a look at the upperend of the size in any of the name brands- also have a look at TABS (i have a 5.4 CC) Formosa etc especially 2 nd hand- these are "semi" plate boats and are well made. With a side console you drive sitting down (which I hate, especially at sea) , CC you can leave the seats out and have less clutter (I am a bit biased to CC"s)LOts of options out there- go fishing with someone who has a side console and then with a CC , see what suits you.

In NSW maximum unbreaked towing weight is 750kg- full stop. If it is heavier than that- and dont listen to boat salesmen or the internet- go well under your maximum towing capacity. Because your boat will have add ons - fuel, gear spare tyre etc etc. Which all adds up. Your first question though- 3 blokes (unless they are jockeys )will not be comfortable in a 3.8M tinny, a 4.5M will be OK for inside/calm waters depending on the style of fishing you wish to do- tell us a bit more about what you want to do and then a bit more help will be forthcoming. Also buy a boat that suits the majority of its usage, dont listen to the wife when she wants canopies/toilets/leather upholstered doosiewhatsits when she will only come on the boat once a year.