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Dreamtime

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Posts posted by Dreamtime

  1. permision to use this line on my apprentice?

    cheers arman

    I think he would be very happy indeed for all to adopt his philosophy. He himself, was rough as guts, but he was a perfectionist in everything he attempted. By far the greatest fisherman that I have ever had the pleasure of learning from, allbeit only "bottom bouncing". Even when he slept on the floor of the wheelroom - yes he also has a Masters ticket, he used to wrap the 100lb handline around his toe so as not to miss a fish.

    He lived in Townsville and his name is Joe Sikora. Reminds me a lot of the Leyland Brothers - even has the Landrover and his Chippy's trailer is a converted horse float.

    No guessing as to why I enlisted his services to be the major contractor when I owner built my house in Townsville.

    Sorry to have digressed from the topic, but I thought it was worth mentioning the origin of the quote.

  2. Thanks for the clarification of your comments Huey. Obviously a warranty definately gives an advantage over a second hand unit without.

    The Mariner, well we got the oil issue sorted out with many thanks to your technical advice.

    I have had a dilemma of late with the spark also. It was only firing on 3 cylinders. I thought this had something to do with the gear mechanism as it "disengages" 3 cylinders when being put into gear - obviously to lower the revs for a smoother gear engagement.

    Bugger me, I've had all the coils switched around, cleaned earth contacts, pulled my hair out and you would never guess the solution that we reached today. On your advice, I put in all new manufacturer recommended plugs, set the gaps as you advised and have been dumbfounded as to why no spark. Okay, my mechanic, unusual at it may seem, has more common sense than me, the layman. He put back the old plugs and "Hey Presto" we are now cooking with gas.

    The "new" plugs that we installed came with the boat when I purchased it.

    Is it likely that they would be faulty, or could have been mishandled in that they would not offer any spark?

    Do they have a "shelf life?" It must sound like a silly question but it's got me buggered why they wouldn't spark!

    Thanks again for the ever helpful advice and have a great weekend.

    Cheers

    Carl

  3. G'day Gary,

    Not the Craw , The Craw !! .

    Nah mate ,no chippy here, just a simple Postie.

    And if anybody knows about near enough is good enough , it's us blokes .

    Bruce. :beersmile:

    Suprisingly, I was once told by a Nth Qld chippy;-

    "That it's right or it's wrong, there's nothing in between. Close only counts if you're throwing hand grenades!!"

  4. near new engine for probably the same sort of price of a second hand one.

    Huey, I know it's Friday but what's the difference between near new and second hand? :wacko:

    On the topic though, I use smaller Horsepower engines for my commercial operations. Still in good service are Yamaha, Suzuki, Mercury, Tohatsu and Johnson 2 strokes.

    I purchased 2 x 15Hp 4 stroke Honda's 2 years ago and unfortunately they gave me nothing but grief. Nearly twice the price of a 2 stroke, I was told that I would get greater longevity from them. Needless to say they are unserviceable now and no longer in my fleet. The other brands seem to be able to handle the harsh environment and careless operators better than the Honda's could.

    I realise it's not the 130Hp you mentioned, but one would think that if you couldn't get it right in the lower Hp range then how would they manage durability, reliability and longevity in the larger engines.

    That is my opinion, for what it's worth.

    Cheers

    Mariner

  5. Progressing well.

    That looks to be where an underfloor fuel tank would normally be mounted?

    How do you store the fuel in your rig?

    Further to the concerns on the strength of the lid, I would just glass over your original 18mm marine ply and that should suffice. I would not be concerned about adding any insulation, however if you put insulation between 2 pieces of 6 or 8mm ply and glasses over, it would work very well also.

    My only concern with eskies flush mounted on the deck would be it's seal integrity. Murphy's law states that anything spilt on the deck is going to head straight for the esky. You may consider raising it 1 or 2 inches above floor height to prevent any contamination from foreign substances ocurring.

    Food for thought.

  6. Solomon Islands hosts region's biggest maritime surveillance operation this week

    HONIARA, SOLOMON ISLANDS: Operation Kurukuru 2008, a coordinated maritime surveillance operation in which countries cooperate to detect activities such as illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing, smuggling and people trafficking, was hosted by the Solomon Islands this week.

    500 people were actively involved in Operation Kurukuru 2008 which resulted in locating 300 foreign fishing vessels in the area of operations, 20 of which were considered worthy of further investigation after analysis. 30 days of patrol at sea were provided plus the four aircraft involved in the operation undertook 100 hours of aerial surveillance.

    Covering an area of 10.6 million square kilometres - including the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) of Cook Islands, Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu – Operation Kurukuru 2008 involved surveillance and law enforcement staff from all of these countries working together with their counterparts from Australia, New Zealand, France and US over 12 days of surveillance.

    Surveillance was conducted by individual countries within their respective EEZ's using 8 Pacific Class Patrol Boats (from Cook Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga (2), Tuvalu, Kiribati and Vanuatu), 4 US Coast Guard Cutters and 1 French Frigate. This was supported by aerial surveillance provided by 4 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (2 P-3 Orions supplied by Australia & New Zealand, a Guardian supplied by France and a Hercules C-130 from the US Coast Guard).

    Operation Kurukuru 2008 was coordinated by a team based in the Solomon Islands Police Force Maritime Unit's newly launched Operations Room, upgraded with funding from the Australian Defence Cooperation Program. The Operations Room relies on access to the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) E-Operations system which collects, displays and analyses aircraft and vessel movements over the entire operations area in an interactive display. By collating information from regional and national licence and suspected illegal fishing lists, the E-Operations system can identify and monitor suspicious vessels. Regional surveillance staff, trained by FFA in how to use the E-Operations system, then can prioritise their operations efforts, contact national staff and make decisions on where to allocate surveillance aircraft and patrol boats.

    Operation Kurukuru 2008 also involved participation by United States Navy as an observer in the regional headquarters with a view to providing aircraft participation next year for the first time, signing of an enduring VMS data sharing agreement by Samoa with all other FFA members and a visit by Australian Defence Minister Hon Joel Fitzgibbon on 10 Sep to view the operation in progress. Operation Kurukuru is an activity to meet the broader objectives of sustainable development and regional security of The Pacific Plan.

    MEDIA CONTACTS – See comments next page. For further information & people to interview –

    For Solomon Islands media: Sergeant Godfrey Abiah, SI Police Media Unit: 24016 For Pacific countries and international media: Anouk Ride, Tel: +677 94548 (or 21124) Email: anouk.ride@ffa.int For Australian media: Australian Department of Defence Media Liason, Tel: +61 2 6265 3343 or +61 408 498 664

    COMMENTS – OPERATION KURUKURU 2008

    Director of the Maritime Unit of SIPF, Eddie Tokuru said: "Solomon Islands Police Force Maritime Unit is pleased to host Operation Kurukuru 2008 and contribute to cooperative approach in regional surveillance operations".

    Air Commodore Tony Jones, Director General Pacific and East Timor, International Policy Division, Australian Department of Defence, said: "The Australian Defence Co-Operation Program is pleased to see the improvement in regional co-operation in maritime law enforcement fostered by the conduct of Operation Kurukuru again this year."

    Director of Fisheries Operations of FFA, Luatutu Andre Volentras said: "FFA is proud to be a part of Operation Kurukuru which has brought Pacific Island countries and territories together this week to share information and resources to survey our seas and combat illegal fishing. Using FFA support such as training, the E-Operations Room and FFA Vessel Monitoring System, participants in this operation have demonstrated skills, capability and regional solidarity."

  7. Hey all, as part of my on going search for more Trout I have decided to expand out to some of the more marginal Trout Lakes. Ben Chifley Dam (near Bathurst) has popped up on my radar and from what I can gather it holds reasonable Trout as well as Natives.

    Has anyone been out there before? The level of the Lake is good (79%), whats access to the lake like?

    Any info would be much appreciated.

    Cheers

    Windy

    Hey Matt,

    This topic has been discussed recently. Try this link it may give you some answers your after.

    http://fishraider.com.au/Invision/index.ph...c=33718&hl=

    hope this is of some info.

    Cheers

    Mariner

  8. Hey Ray,

    Nice report and a great photo of your backyard.

    I guess the fish just weren't on if the fresh live nippers couldn't tempt then, then not much else would of given you more success.

    I hope you introduced Reg to Fishraider, and or you plan to meet up with him again and follow up his desire to fish with plastics.

    Look forward to some more great photos and a report (successfull) or two from your new found fishing pal.

    Cheers

    Mariner

  9. Has anyone had to buy a spacer to mount them b4.

    Bought some in canada and they only had 7/8 or 1 1/4 which i bought. I have a 1 inch rail, tried some rubber but not really any good, wondering if there is a off the shelf item i can buy before having a nylon bush made. Looked at pvc pipe but wall thickness is not thick enough, needs to be about 3mm thick

    any ideas?

    Some good advice already delivered. You could also look at another 3 options.

    1/. Take a piece of 1" pipe and cut it longitudinally on 2 sides. Use this as a spacer and if need be put some 1/8" insertion rubber (or old tyre tube) between it and your rail, and also between the downrigger clamp to take up the slack in the tolerances.

    2/. For extra itegrity of the mount you may consider drilling a couple of 1/8" holes and applying either a stainless pop rivet or self tapper for security.

    3/. Cut and shut the 1" handrail and substitute (weld in place) the larger diameter to suit the downrigger mount.

    Hope this is of some assistance.

    Cheers

    Mariner

  10. Hi Steve,

    Nice device, I would only be seeking clarification on whether it would be determined as a net or trap.

    If it was to be considered as being a trap, then the guidelines prohibit an entrance at the top.

    Does interpretation of rigid allow for these collapsable PVC sides? (not permanently rigid)

    The other point in question is the mesh size and type - not less than 13mm for w/h and, not less than 50mm and must not be made of entanglement material for a trap.

    Could be very confusing and debatable as to what is a entanglement mesh.

    I think you would be wise, as you mentioned, to get advice from fisheries.

    Good Luck.

  11. 1. If you take an Oriental person and spin him around several times,

    does he become disoriented?

    2. If people from Poland are called Poles, why aren't people from

    Holland called Holes?

    3. Do infants enjoy infancy as much as adults enjoy adultery?

    4. If a pig loses its voice, is it disgruntled?

    5. If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?

    6. Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?

    7. When cheese gets its picture taken, what does it say?

    8. Why is a person who plays the piano called a pianist but a person

    who drives a racing car not called a racist?

    9. Why are a wise man and a wise guy opposites?

    10. Why do overlook and oversee mean opposite things?

    11. Why isn't the number 11 pronounced onety one?

    12. 'I am' is reportedly the shortest sentence in the English language.

    Could it be that 'I do' is the longest sentence?

    13. If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow

    that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged,

    models deposed, tree surgeons debarked, and dry cleaners depressed?

    14. What hair colour do they put on the driver's licences of bald men?

    15. I thought about how mothers feed their babies with tiny little

    spoons and forks so I wondered what do Chinese mothers use? Toothpicks?

    16. Why do they put pictures of criminals up in the Post Office? What

    are we supposed to do, write to them? Why don't they just put their

    pictures on the postage stamps so the postmen can look for them while

    they deliver the mail?

    17. You never really learn to swear until you learn to drive. (my fav)

    18. No one ever says, 'It's only a game' when their team is winning.

    19. Ever wonder about those people who spend $2.00 apiece on those

    little bottles of Evian water? Try spelling Evian backwards: NAIVE

    20. Isn't making a smoking section in a restaurant like making a peeing

    section in a swimming pool?

    22. OK ... so if the Jacksonville Jaguars are known as the 'Jags' and

    the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are known as the 'Bucs,' what does that make

    the Tennessee Titans?

    23. If 4 out of 5 people SUFFER from diarrhoea, does that mean that one

    enjoys it?

    24. Why if you send something by road it is called a shipment, but when

    you send it by sea it is called cargo?

    25. If a convenience store is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365

    days a year, why are there locks on the door?

  12. My experience with this diesel bacteria leads to one solution only.

    Remove and drain the tank.

    I had previously used the medicine mentioned above however it gave me more grief than one could imagine. Sure, it kills the bacteria, but the reultant matter blocks fuel filters like nothing else. One problem rectified, but creates another even nastier result. I think the inconvenience of poor fuel flow from blocked filters almost drove me to insanity. Took a lot of replacement filters, and quite a deal of time for the fuel to become "clean" again.

    Definately recommend removing the tank. A couple of hours and your problem is solved - not to mention the piece of mind knowing that your tank is completely free of foreign objects.

    Just my 2 cents worth.

  13. Need some advice;

    Put the boat in yesterday, and for all money couldn't fire up the engine.

    On inspection today by my mechanic, he found the carbies and fuel filter full of 2 stroke oil.

    Now, the oil line goes direct to the small resevoir on the engine and not through the fuel filter. With that, it appears that the oil must be back pressuring or something, back through the carbies and fuel lines.

    This has happened on the last three occasions. I first thought that the fuel had evaporated and left the oil residue in the carbies, however to find oil in the fuel filter raises some questions.

    The batteries are disconnected after each use and I do not disconnect the fuel lines to run the fuel out of the engine.

    After draining the oil out and starting the engine, all is fine. During the day when fishing, the engine starts fine after being turned off for periods of up to 1 hour. I haven't had the engine off for longer periods when fishing so don't know if there would be a problem after 1 hour. Last started engine 10 days ago, then no joy yesterday.

    It is a 225Hp V6 Mariner with 6 carbies.

    Look forward to some helpfull advise.

    Cheers

    Carl

  14. After reading this post I wasn't completely convinced of this smelling theory, so I done a bit of research myself. Following is some interesting and useful information.

    The distinctive odour of the mulloway is part of its mystique. They swim up under the surf along the coastal beaches, expelling this odour in their excretions as they go. When the beach worms come up out of the sand to feed on this stuff, the jewies suck them in.

    The mulloway is found in Africa, Madagascar and along the southern coastline of Australia from Shark Bay in Western Australia to north of Brisbane in Queensland.

    It is the most southern species belonging to the Scinaenid Family with many species present in the north of Australia. The most notable species is the ‘black jew’, which is often confused with the mulloway but distinguishable by the slightly stouter body, smaller more compact scales, firmer texture and darker appearance. Also known as butterfish and jewies, they are perhaps the most prized sporting fish that is in ready reach of the everyday angler.

    Mulloway is a fish of many names, It is the aboriginal name for ‘the greatest one’. Mulloway are indeed one of our greatest scalefish and are easily distinguished from other fish through their metallic silver / bronze sheen, shield like scales and concave (outward fanning) tail. They grow to a large size, with fish up to 30kg common and some records of fish up to 40kg. Mulloway are equipped with elaborate swim bladders which are able to resonate and emit a ‘croaking’ noise, which can often be heard from the sides of the boats on a quiet night when fish are many metres below. This characteristic is common to the Sciaenid family of fishes, collectively known as drums or croakers for the reasons described.

    Mulloway also contain enlarged otoliths or ‘ear bones’ which are often collected for jewellery items. This attribute has led eastern Staters in particular to refer to them as ‘jewies’ or jew fish (after ‘jewel fish’). Another name used to describe mulloway is ‘butterfish’ which relates to the yellow butter-like lather that mulloway apparently produce on the surface of the seawater during spawning.

    Although it is difficult to generalise, mulloway tend to spend their first four years or so in the estuaries and then move to marine waters for the remaining years.

    Mulloway generally spawn in marine waters just outside of the surf zone and the egg larval development occurs at sea, with juveniles settling in estuarine nursery areas until a length of 46cm is reached, in about three to four years. A 10kg mulloway is likely to be about six to seven years of age. They are thought to live for a maximum of about 30 years.

    Mulloway are believed to reach sexual maturity at a length of about 75cm, although this has not been verified for Australian waters.

    Mulloway are opportunistic predators, feeding on a variety of fish, molluscs and crustaceans. The size of prey items increases with the size of the fish (there is a message for the anglers here!). Large fish have been observed though, with large numbers euphausides, which are small shrimp like crustaceans which often ‘swarm’ in the water column just beyond the surf zone. Other food items include sand crabs (especially on surf beaches), small fish such as mullet, and whatever organisms are abundant in the locality.

  15. Commercial fishing practices can reduce genetic diversity in fish populations, possibly threatening their productivity and adaptability to environmental change, new research has found.

    An Australian zoologist now at the University of Melbourne, along with colleagues from the United Kingdom and New Zealand, was the first to record a decline in the genetic diversity of a commercially exploited marine species.

    Their findings, published in the latest volume of the "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences", shout a warning that could force a rethink to current fisheries management and the research focus into sustainable fishing.

    Dr Greg Adcock analysed the DNA found in scales preserved from two populations of New Zealand snapper collected from the 1950s to 1998. One population had been commercially fished since the late 1800s. The other was a 'virgin' population, being subjected to subsistence and recreational fishing only until the scale collection began.

    Adcock and colleagues found that the virgin population from Tasman Bay on New Zealand's South Island had suffered an unexpected decline in genetic diversity, starting from the time it began to be commercially exploited in the 1950s.

    The other population, from the North Island's Hauraki Bay, showed no decline in genetic diversity in the nearly 50 years to 1998.

    The paper reports that the Tasman Bay's effective population size (the number of fish in the population capable of breeding) is 100,000 times fewer than its total number, and several orders of magnitude lower than expected.

    "In Tasman Bay, commercial fishing has often reduced total numbers to as low as about one million. This leaves only a few hundred fish to contribute to the next generation, a dangerously low genetic base from which to sustain a population," says Adcock.

    Less diversity means less adaptability

    "With a high effective population you can retain a large amount of rare genetic variation. Such variation is lost as numbers decline. A rare variant may not play a significant role in the current environment, but if a fish population loses a large number of these genes, such as happened in Tasman Bay, they risk losing the ability to adapt to changes such as global warming, pollution and human induced changes to predator and prey populations," he says.

    Adcock points to recent assertions that ocean warming is suspected of causing recruitment failure of cold-adapted North Sea cod.

    "Until now nobody suspected that any loss of diversity was happening as it was thought that even in over-fished populations where their numbers are still be in the millions, that there would still be a sufficiently large effective population to prevent declines in genetic diversity," says Adcock.

    "A population of several million may actually be in danger of losing genetic variability, which may have long-term consequences," he says.

    "Genetic diversity should become a management consideration in many exploited marine species. Many fully exploited or over-fished stocks may be already suffering loss of diversity.

    "We don't know yet the minimal level of genetic diversity required to sustain a commercial fishery long-term, but there is enough evidence now to suggest we need to be cautious and begin to reassess our understanding of fishery management and the sustainability of the industry."

    How genetic diversity was measured

    To assess the loss of genetic diversity, Adcock and his colleagues studied seven regions of the snapper's chromosomes, known as microsatellite loci, which are highly variable and mutate at high rates.

    The high rates of mutation in microsatellites produce the levels of variation required for researchers to work out how long ago two or more populations or species diverged from a common population or ancestor. In this case, Adcock and colleagues used this variation to assess the changes in genetic diversity over time.

    The Tasman Bay population showed a significant decline in diversity in six of the seven loci.

    To explain why Hauraki Gulf failed to show any loss of genetic diversity, Adcock contends that the genetic variation had already been lost in the early years of intensive fishing, prior to 1950.

    "Hauraki Gulf is a larger population than Tasman Bay and should naturally retain more genetic variation. When the study began, however, its variation was lower than Tasman Bay's," he says.

    Adcock believes the findings open up exciting possibilities of further research and collaboration with the various fishing industry bodies.

    "A close collaboration between fishery biologists, geneticists and the fishing industry would be required to carry out research into the biology and behaviour of marine species and their possible implications for fisheries management and conservation," he says.

    Adcock's colleagues from Hull University (UK) were Lorenz Hauser (now at the University of Washington), Julio Bernal Ramirez and Gary Carvalho, and from New Zealand, Peter Smith of the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research.

    More information about this article:

    Dr Greg Adcock

    University of Melbourne

    E-mail gjadcock@unimelb.edu.au

  16. From my experience it comes down to whether you are out crabbing, or fishing. Witches hats are great if you are going to frequently check them. I use a dilly net and a fast retrieve. We set a "string" and return back to the first net to check after the last net is set. Basically when the crab is having a feed and is on the tray, a quick retrieve will have you bring the net to the surface before the crab knows what is going on. As he is too busy having a chew on the bait to think about escaping.

    If I am going fishing, then a trap is the go. Set it and leave it. Check it and retrieve it on the way home.

    Due to the corrosive effect of seawater on steel and other metals, anti-corrosion ANODES are often attached to traps and pots to extend their useful life.

    Other Saltwater traps and nets

    Bait trap

    Not more than 1 trap to be used by any person at any one time

    Maximum dimensions - 450mm (length) x 350mm (diameter) - entrance funnel no larger than 60mm in diameter

    Must have a tag attached clearly showing your name and address (or name and boat registration number)

    Crab nets

    Hoop or Lift Net (commonly called Witch's Hat):

    Not more than 5 nets to be used (or in possession) by any person at any one time.

    1 or 2 hoops per net (no rigid frame between them).

    Diameter of hoops should be no greater than 1.25 metres.

    Mesh size not less than - 13mm.

    Drop (length of net) should be no more than 1 metre.

    A tag, at least 80mm x 25mm, clearing showing your name and address (or name and registration number of boat being used) must be attached.

    Must be dropped and raised vertically through the water by hand.

    Must not be used in ocean waters.

    Any rock lobsters or fin-fish (which are subject to a size limit) which are caught must be returned to the water.

    Spanner crab net:

    Not more than 1 spanner crab net can be used by a person at any one time.

    Net attached to a rigid frame not exceeding 1.6 metres in length and 1 metre in width.

    Net not capable of extending more than 0.1 metre beneath the frame when the frame is suspended in a horizontal position.

    Used only as a hand implement and only be the method of lowering the net into the water and then drawing the net vertically to the surface.

    Only to be used for taking of spanner crabs.

    May only be used in ocean waters north of Korogoro Point (Hat Head).

    Crab trap

    Not more than 1 trap to be used (or in possession) by any person at any one time.

    Maximum dimensions - 1.2 metres (length) x 1 metre (width) x 0.5 metre (depth) or has a diameter not exceeding 1.6 metres at the top or bottom.

    Minimum mesh size - 50mm.

    No more than 4 entrances (none of which are on the top of the trap).

    A buoy with a minimum diameter of 10cm clearly marked "CRAB TRAP" with your name in letters not less than 50mm high must be attached. No rope should float on the surface of the water.

    Must not be made of entanglement material.

    Must not be set to impede the free passage of fish.

    Any fish caught (other than crabs) must be returned to the water.

    Crab traps must not be used in inland waters or ocean waters.

    Lobster trap

    Not more than 1 trap to be used (or in possession) by any person at any time.

    The base or floor of the trap may be either rectangular or circular.

    Rectangular (not exceeding 1.2 metres by 1.2 metres)

    Circular (not exceeding 1.2 metres in diameter).

    A buoy with a minimum diameter of 10cm clearly marked "L" with your name in letters not less than 50mm high must be attached. No rope should float on the surface of the water.

    Escape gaps are required - either: 1 gap not less than 57mm high X 500mm wide or 2 gaps not less than 57mm high x 250mm wide or 3 gaps not less than 57mm high x 200mm wide so that no part of any escape gap is more than 12cm above the floor of the trap.

    Lobster traps must not be used in inland waters or any waters more than 10 metres deep (contour).

    Other fish caught in lobster traps must be returned to the water.

    Prawn nets

    Hand-hauled nets:

    Maximum length - 6 metres.

    Mesh size between 30mm-36mm.

    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.

    Must not be attached to a hauling line.

    Any fish caught which are subject to a size limit must be returned to the water.

    Must be registered

    Scissors (push) net:

    Must be attached to a scissors-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.

    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 returned to the water.

    Must be registered

    Dip (scoop) net - prawns:

    Maximum diameter of hoop or ring - 0.6 metres.

    Maximum handle length - 1.2 metres

    Minimum mesh size - 20mm.

    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 prawning may be kept, however, where applicable bag and size limits apply.

    Registration is not required.

    Net Registration

    Prawn nets may be registered at NSW DPI Fisheries Offices (other than Head Office) at $23 for the life of the net.

    The Net Registration Certificate must be carried when using the net, and shown on demand to a NSW DPI Fisheries Officer.

    Note: NSW DPI Fisheries Officers spend much of their time out in the field and office days vary, therefore it is suggested that you telephone in advance to make an appointment

    Some more info - check for updates from Kristina Resanceff 8437 4915 or Eric Aubert on 0419 185 375

    09 Jan 2004

    Please note - This news release has now been archived and may contain outdated information.NSW Fisheries is reminding fishers to do the right thing following a recent spate of crab trapping offences along the State's north coast.

    A commercial fisher from Tweed Heads will be prosecuted after being found last week in Cabarita Lake without a valid licence, exceeding the bag limit for mud crabs and using an excessive number of crab traps. NSW Fisheries officers seized his boat and crab traps.

    "We are particularly concerned that both recreational and commercial trappers get it right as blue swimmer and mud crabs are now reaching the peak of their season on the north coast," NSW Fisheries Northern Regional Manager, Max Withnell, said.

    "We want people to enjoy fishing for these delicacies, but it's important that we all follow the rules to ensure we have a sustainable crab fishery."

    Mr Withnell reminds recreational crabbers that they can use one crab trap per person, and up to five hoop or lift nets, of legal size. The buoy attached to a recreational trap must be marked with the words "CRAB TRAP", followed by the name and address of the person setting the trap.

    At Lake Macquarie in the Hunter region, however, use of all traps is banned. NSW Fisheries has confiscated more than 190 illegal crab traps since Boxing Day.

    "Visitors and residents are reminded that there is a total trap ban for all waters of Lake Macquarie, including all tributaries and creeks flowing into the lake. This ban includes crab traps and 'opera house' style yabby traps," Mr Withnell said.

    "Details of trap dimensions, bag and size limits, and closed waters are all available in the new 2003-2004 NSW Fisheries Saltwater Fishing Guide.

    "The free guide is available from NSW Fisheries offices, fishing licence agents, like bait and tackle shops, as well as from the NSW Fisheries website at www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au."

    Licenced commercial fishers may use crab and/or fish traps to catch mud crabs and blue swimmer crabs respectively, depending on their licence endorsement. Regulations specify the number of commercial traps that may be used and how they are to be marked.

    Most importantly, only the owner of a trap should lift or use it. It is an offence for any person to interfere with any set fishing gear.

    "Theft of traps and crabs from traps will not be tolerated and offenders may be referred to the police," said Mr Withnell.

    Maximum penalties of up to $5,500 apply for interference with crab traps.

    Here's a link to the "Crab Cookbook"

    http://books.google.com.au/books?id=K8pQ4k...9&ct=result

    Hope you find some useful information here.

    Cheers

    Mariner

  17. Rock fishing can be particularly dangerous due to the unpredictable nature of the ocean.

    Follow these safety tips at all times when rock fishing or when fishing in hazardous areas:

    Never fish by yourself: fish in a group of at least three people and within sight of each other. If someone is washed in, one person can stay and help while the other alerts emergency services (dial 000). Mobile phone users can also dial 112 to access emergency services.

    Inform others of your plans: always let friends or family know where you are going and when you will be back.

    Wear light clothing: light clothing such as shorts and a spray jacket will let you swim easily if you are washed in. Jumpers may be heavy and difficult to take off.

    Wear appropriate footwear: cleats, sandals and sandshoes with non slip soles suit different surfaces. Use the appropriate shoes for the conditions. Fisher wearing a life jacket

    Carry safety gear: wear a life jacket or buoyancy vest.

    Also bring something buoyant that can be easily thrown and held onto, to help you stay afloat. Carry ropes and torches.

    Never fish in exposed areas during rough or large seas: make sure you are aware of local weather, swell and tidal conditions before going fishing. Listen to weather forecasts or call the weather information line on 1900 937 107. Be aware that conditions may change dramatically in a short period of time.

    Observe first, fish later: spend some time (at least 30 minutes) watching your intended spot before fishing to get an idea of the conditions over a full swell/wave cycle. Wave conditions can get worse as the tide changes - you should know whether the tides are high or low and coming in or going out.

    Plan an escape route in case you are washed in: stay calm - If you are washed in, swim away from the rocks and look for a safe place to come ashore or stay afloat and wait for help to arrive.

    Stay alert. Don't ever turn your back on the sea: if the waves, weather or swell threaten your fishing spot then leave immediately.

    Ask for advice from locals who know the area: they can advise you of good, safe fishing locations.

    Further information:

    www.safewaters.nsw.gov.au

    www.angelrings.com.au

    Rockfishing safety brochure 509.0 kb

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