Concerning Dolphin Presence

[BayDog]

Would just like to comment about a remarkedly big increase in the presence of dolpins when snapper fishing. Without fail every time i visit the Harry Atkinson arty there are dolphins hassling the fishos and the same story at the sunken reef at peel, and now from recent reports, at Mud. Any theories on this. Its not natural and I belive that anglers are contributing to the problem by feeding them undersize squire destined to be throwbacks as i have talked to a few people who do this. Evertime i catch a fish when the dolphins are present they are aware and eagerly awaiting the return of the caught fish to the water. Any ideas guys

[Dick Pasfield]

Hit the nail on the head with the deliberate feeding, happens all over with fish and other critters including crocs.

Sharks are now targeting sambo aggregations off WA, not as a result of deliberate feeding like mentioned but taking the opportunity to knock off the fish when they're hooked. Anglers have to leave as too many fish get sharked at times.

Just a matter of fish reptiles or mammals associating the act of fishing with a free feed.

[Leighton]

on the money BayDog, a few months ago it was the Turtles that were stealing my catch of Sandies now the Dolphins are begging to be fed.
Seen plenty of undersize Squire fed to Dolphins, Roosters thumping the side of there boat hoping to get them close to hand feed.
Gee if that wont scare the Snaps off, Dolphins and Musical Tinnies

[whatscracken]

I always keep an eye out when releasing a fish back into the water, their not shy in getting right in close to the boat.

[Riptide_45]

Yeh i fished green yesterday arvo and they were 3-4 of them up in there 2. admitedly there was alot of little bait hanging around out off the edge of the drop off but still it was a bit abnormal.

[the gecko]

I see em in the broadwater and seaway a bit, but they always move on quickly. They know I wont have any throwbacks for em.;D Gotta catch a fish first....

I see in Nth Qld, some of the fishos are finding sharks associate the outboard motor noise with a feed now. I wonder if dolphins will do the same?

[Chuckmeister]

A few days ago I was at Peel near the sunken reef and there was a dolphin that was stalking us. We'd move and next thing you know there it is, hovering around out boat. I kept thinking at the time whether it was looking for a feed and was used to people feeding it. It was worrying because you don't want to see them becoming too familiar with boats. Yesterday around Macleay, there were quite a few dolphins and the amount of them with chopped up dorsals was disturbing.

[whitingkiller]

there was a pod of dolphins around the powerlines 2 weekends ago...seemed very friendly and where not scared of boats/humans...

had live mullet out on my handline and i think one gave the bait a nudge

maybe the same pod????

[BayDog]

That dolphin at the sunken reef with the damaged dorsal seem to have become quite a regular now. I have seen him fed on numerous occasions and will go from one boat to the next until i usually bugger off. It seems though that last year they weren't there at the reef so is this a relatively new thing? Could their presence around fishing boats be attributed to the low numbers of squire/snapper in the bay this year as apposed to last year?

You are right crackin about them not being shy, i have had this fella at the sunken reef come right up next to the boat and turn on his side so as to look at you, like they do at seaworld.

[SummerTrance]

I saw a boat handfeeding them bait at Harry's last week.

Yesterday at Mud one came straight over to the boat as soon as we pulled up, prob expecting a feed. It hung around for 10 mins b4 dissapearing.

[ifishcq1]

We put our throwbacks in the livey tank when the dolphins are about and when we have caught a feed we just slip away from the immediate spot and let them all go to make sure dolphins or sharks don't get next years keepers

I know we could be nabbed by the fishoes but we keep a good eye out

SL

[jim_bream]

Seen plenty of undersize Squire fed to Dolphins, **Roosters** ....
Roosters??? Almost as bad as those bloody Melbourne Storm...
:P

[death_ship]

they are there to hoover burley as well, they arent silly

[cobiaman]

they have been aound the beacons for the last few years stealing livies and mackeral, good to watch but i cant stand fishing when they are around...

[PinHead]

what is the best bait to catch one ????

[Fish_gutz]

I `ve been out in the bay when the dolphins turn up and they are that smart that they know how to strip a pillie of the three gang without getting hooked. also snelled squid and livies ! it drives me mad but I dont want to see any harm come to these awesome animals(usually a mother and calf) I`m sure they are the same ones that get fed at tangalooma every night so this could be part of the problem? they usually nick off after a while. if they don`t I just sit for a bit with no baits out till they do. time wasted I know but i`d rather wait than hook one. i`m also certain that the noise of the motor brings them straight over from wherever they were to start with.Cheers Andrew

[cobiaman]

what is the best bait to catch one ????

they take yakkas and slimeys, the hardest part is gettin a hook into them::)::)

[SeaHunt]

they take yakkas and slimeys, the hardest part is gettin a hook into them::)::)

Funny how they seem to be able to avoid getting hooked.

They used to be a valid sportfish back in the 1950's, either they are smarter these days or we are dumber fishermen.

Personally I wont feed them a pilly unless they perform a trick first:D

A double back flip will usually do. ::)

[GBC]

Yeah they're nice with chips Greg, and fight hard for their size too.

I know what you bay blokes are whining about. Come out the other side of moreton and see how the snapper shut down when 1/2 acre of them show up.

[steve99]

what is the best bait to catch one ????

Yakkas.........apparently.

[63eh]

jackall mask so i hear? hey dolphin hunter

[Az]

I know as a fisherman they can be annouying but at the same time it's great to see them thriving and you can't blame them with the amount of boats that feed them - they're not stupid

[JT]

Mmmmm - Tuna free Dolphin :chef: :oops::wink: LOL