Stop netting in Maroochy River

[fishinwahbee]

The Maroochy River QLD, sunshine coast needs some attention regarding mullet netters. These netters are getting alot of small jewfish around th 30cm mark, i stop and wonder why there is not a million jew in the river for all the small jew i get around the 30cm mark. Would someone be able to make a difference. The solution i think is banning them and if you want mullet or other fish go out and catch them yourself. If you are a person that does not have the ability to catch them so be it, because it is the people that put in the hard yards that suffer. The netters are not allowed in so many different esturies including the mooloolah just down the road so why the maroochy. The maroocjy river for me is one of the better esturys out because of the amount of water, structure including deep holes and the different types of fish. The other day a block pulled a 7.9kg cobia from the river. Back to the topic, we would like to keep the river this way and since it is so great it attracts a number of people so it needs all the support it can to stay stocked with fish. A thread has just been posted regarding a petition or something to ban netting in cairns. does anyone have the ability to do this with the Maroochy river. I contribute to the amount of the fish in the river by letting all my fish go, if i was to be like another person that has a higher angerling ability that means more fish, then there would be twice as many fish being kept as he keeps all of his. and im talking bagging out if he has the opportuntity. Another reason why we need as many fish growing up in the river.

Fishinwahbee

[nigelr]

Nice to see a young bloke with an interest in and appreciation of his local fishery.
Sincere best wishes young fella.

[goat boy]

you can check out
http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-assembly/petitions/overview
and
http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-assembly/petitions/forms-and-guidelines
for starters.
Do a search on here also about netting, mullet netting etc to familiarise yourself with the often hot topic.
Be aware that these guys are legit and what they are doing is legal. They would have to be fairly compensated if it was handed down that their licences were to be taken back (do some research on past experiences).
At the end of the day, good to see you are taking an interest in the future of your favourite haunt. On a side note of what not to do.......
I was out for a run today and ran past one of the Tweed boat ramps, stuck up on a light pole there was a very badly written note addressed to the local netters to stop and also engaging on-lookers to join a petition against it (I can't find it online for the life of me). There was quite a few choice comments about that scenario written underneath it....funny, but that's what you get if you wanna speak up.

[the gecko]

Ive done a bit of research, and this just comes down to money to buy out the licences. DERM, dpi, greenies, are all against it. Even Anna Bligh promised to fix it. Nobody had made any budget allowance tho, after all the cutbacks in govt. Word is, that it will be many years before its resolved.

[sandbankmagnet]

A 7.9kg cobia? Wow... That's an unusual catch from an estuary.

[Muddy Toes]

A 7.9kg cobia? Wow... That's an unusual catch from an estuary.

I would have thought so too if i hadn't seen my sister do the same thing when we were kids many years ago in Currumbin Creek whilst trying to catch a mother of a sting ray on a blood worm.

[NAGG]

It's a shame that they allow the netting of any estuary ......... Fishing for everyone would be so much better if it was banned!

As for Cobes in estuaries - my first 3 came from the Mcleay River (South West Rocks) ...... not too far up river but in the river none the less - 10kg cobes go good in that environment!

Chris

[tidemaster]

I caught a small cobe in a few feet of water on the reef in front of clontarf boat ramp a few years ago while chasing flathead

[004dam]

A new guy started at work and I was talking to him about fishing. He said he fishes maroochy a fair bit and gets good jew.... I asked him how big he said around 40cm He knocks of the fillets straight away he reckons. Needless to say I don't talk to him about fishing anymore.

[alleycat]

It's a shame that they allow the netting of any estuary ......... Fishing for everyone would be so much better if it was banned!

As for Cobes in estuaries - my first 3 came from the Mcleay River (South West Rocks) ...... not too far up river but in the river none the less - 10kg cobes go good in that environment!

Chris

Hi nagg, funny you say that, my favourite photo of my grandfather is one of him holding a 1 metre cobia he caught in front of his farm house on the macleay river 5klm downstream from smithtown, that river holds some very big bream and flathead as well, o caught a few small cobia there myself..

[bg1000]

Not having a go at Fishinwahbee as I can appreciate that there different views on this issue.
But I think we must look at all the areas the governement has created which provide recreational only fishing zones I'm talking yellow zones plus additional closed areas. The whole of the bribie passage, the mooloolah river, large areas of the noosa river and maroochy river. Everywhere along the entire Queensland coastline already has such areas. These areas have been created so that if any recreational fisher has a problem with commercial fishing then they can access these recreational only zones. (I realise that bait may be taken within some yellow zones). Also, nearly all estuarine systems are closed to commercial activity for the weekend.

Why is it that many within the recreational communtiy don't see that this resource belongs to everyone in Australia, regardless of how much effort one puts into catching fish/ or how much they choose to spend on fishing gear and boats. Queensland fisheries reports already indicate that the recreational take of inshore fin fish far exceeds that of the commercial take on many many of the key species. Including bream, whiting, flathead and tailor. Yet fishers still seem to think that it is the pro fisherman is unsustainable even though the statistics indicate otherwise. The reports show that recreational fisherman take more bream, whting, flathead and tailor than pro fisherman, but it is the pro fisherman that is persecuted by rec fisherman for providing fish to the public.
Its seems that many would like to see the entire resource allocated to recreational fishing only. No seems to appreciate that Queensland has some of the most extensive marine zonings in the world.

Also, in terms of the pros in the rivers, what are there catch rates, what are the levels of by-catch, what mesh size are they using. These are questions that needs quantified answers, rather than to just hop on a forum and decide that banning something must be the right thing to do.
Does anyone ever stop to think how many undersized fish may be killed by a fouled hook or bait net in the Maroochy River?

If funding is such an issue why arn't we looking at buying out some of theses licenses by having a Recreational Fishing License, like NSW. Surely a small fee per year would be a small price to pay to have the exclusive right.

Should recreational fisherman really have the exclusive right to access this seafood resource? Or does it belong to everyone in Australia, regardless of whether they choose to catch it themselves or buy a fresh piece of local mullet
from a fish and chip store.

I also hope when we are looking at toal net bans that we are including cast nets and bait nets. I'm mean we wouldn't want to be hypercritical.

[mattooty]

Good idea Fishinwahbee, but you gotta take your blinkers off mate and look at the big picture.
EVERYONE has a right to the fishery that you call your local. Everyone from the old bloke down the road who wants to keep a bream for dinner, even if it is only just legal, to you with your favorite gear, to a bloke who is catching fish to feed his family through commercial fishing.
I'm not going to go into it, because you really have the fisheries best interest at heart, but why do you have any more right to the river than a pro who's selling their finfish to someone who doesn't enjoy the sport of fishing? Should you be denied the right to eat red meat because you're not out there mustering and shooting cows or sheep, cleaning them and taking them home?

[chris69]

Well said BG1000, how manys times have the selected few have a bellyack about the pros and the get more than what they asked for, it would be very funny if the there was a netting ban and they included cast nets and bait nets in the systems that a lot of fishers want the netting band.

[lampuki]

Hi all.

There are some different views on this one, below are the points of interest i found.

"Why is it that many within the recreational community don't see that this resource belongs to everyone in Australia, regardless of how much effort one puts into catching fish/ or how much they choose to spend on fishing gear and boats."

"EVERYONE has a right to the fishery that you call your local"

"Should recreational fisherman really have the exclusive right to access this seafood resource?"

I didn't realise this thread was about stopping pros access to the resource, it's about the technique.

If the argument then becomes, it's not commercially viable to target mullet without nets, then stop selling the shit a xx cents a kilo. And then if there is no market for it, at x dollars a kilo, then there is no market for it - that's business. There are a lot of things I would like to do for a living, but I can't do it cause it's not commercially viable. But in saying that, if the govenment does legislate this, then the commercial fisherman should be adequatley compensated and should be looked after!!!!

Drag Bait nets should be banned, due to the amount of bycatch they hit.

And i dont think u should be putting forth what's good for the goose......cause in that case, why cant recs use gill nets?

The successful release rate on gut hooked whiting and bream, when line cut, is 77 - 85%. The success rate of netted juveniles???? Not so good.

[Apollo]

............

If funding is such an issue why arn't we looking at buying out some of theses licenses by having a Recreational Fishing License, like NSW. Surely a small fee per year would be a small price to pay to have the exclusive right.
.........

I agree with this point. IF there is to be a removal of commercial fisherman from the estuary system, they need to be fairly compensated and if it is to the benefit of rec fishers, then perhaps a rec licence is the best way to fund this.

Also would like to see the ratbag recs that take undersize and over bag limits policed more harshly and regularly, as this is part of the issue.

[randell]

The netters usually net on the beach near the mouth of the Maroochy Rv. I've never seen them in the river itself.
Has anyone else seen them net in the river and where abouts..
randell

[fishinwahbee]

Wowwww,

Im not talking about the mullet, but the problem is the technology may be there but the small !!JEW!! (my problem) are very similar size to the mullet so they do get stuck, im sure that tailor would too. They dont have the same right as people trying to have a feed, or have fun they bloody rape the stocks. Im not going to say no more as i honestly dont really know what im talking about im 14 and it is quiet hard to comprehand what some have said. Thankyou all for the post they do seem relevent. No disrespect to anyone.


Mate i have seen them netting in the Maroochy river just up from where i was fishing for jewies up near dunethin a couple of times. I have seen them many times putting there boat in and out. One mentioned that they do not net on weekends but i do not really remember but i think i seen them netting when i was fishing. Is this the case that they cant net on weekends or other?

FW

[bg1000]

Maroochy is closed from 6pm Friday to 6 pm Sunday.

[bg1000]

Lampuki if netting were banned how do you suppose fish be harvested for the consumer? Isn't a better way to look for solutions to problems, that result in better outcomes for all stakeholder groups rather than just your own.

The first step in any issue such as this would be to establish that there is actually a by catch issue and to what extent the issue actually exsists. It is only in the best interest of a commercial fisherman to also look after the environment. After all they are relying on catching fish for a living. Secondly, once established how could it be avoided. For example, there have been many advancments in bycatch reduction, in NSW Beach fishery by using a 102mm Square mesh cod end, which enables undersized bream to past through. It has reduced the bycatch in that fishery by over 80%.

I would much rather see both recreational and commercial groups working together to improve fisheries. It does not need to be one against the other.

I must point out that the governement has already created an extensive range of net free areas for recreational fisherman, in the way of yellow zones and also other closures. For anyone that is interested starting on page 74 of the 2008 Fisheries Regulation is a three page list of waterways that are either entirely and partially closed to commercial net fishing. but in most cases allow recreational fishing.

The successful release rate on gut hooked whiting and bream, when line cut, is 77 - 85%. The successful release rate on gut hooked whiting and bream, when line cut, is 77 - 85%. The success rate of netted juveniles???? Not so good.
See these are some stats that can be used to objectively manage a fishery (Rec, charter or pro). Hey lampuki you reckon you could let me know where that stat came from and who done the research. I would be interested in finding out more. Also, this is the kind of stat we need for the release rate of by catch in nets. Facts need to be established before simply deciding something must be banned.To symply say "The success rate of netted juveniles???? Not so good." is very subjective. And such a comment should have no bearing on how to manage fisheries. Lets keep to the researched based points.

Mullet are a good commercial species. They provide an affordable option to those who wish to purchase fresh fish. The frames are sold for crab bait to both rec and pro fisherman and the mullet gut is also packaged for bait.

[lampuki]

Hey bg.

Was out last night so i only saw your thread now.

"lampuki you reckon you could let me know where that stat came from and who done the research"

Yeah sure:

http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/recreational/saltwater/catch-and-release/research

"The success rate of netted juveniles???? Not so good." is very subjective. And such a comment should have no bearing on how to manage fisheries. Lets keep to the researched based points. "

Any juvi fish, such a small jewie, that has been hung for any significant time is going to be dead - not really subjective.

I do take your point about quantifying the amount of by catch - I am sure you can provide us with your insight on this one given your experience - and I honeslty would be interested in what you have to say here on this. I put forth that there is an issue from what I have seen first hand, in both rivers and on the beach. There have also been several post on this very forum highlighting the issue, from people who have spent there lives in and around the relevant areas. And the very fact that the fishery is tyring to better manage this issue would imply that there is an issue worth dealing with. As for the 102 mm square mesh cod end, I doubt that is going to help the issue that was raised by the poster of this thread.

what % of mullet is actually consumed by humans?
what % is sold as bait?
what % ends up as pet food?

I do understand peoples livleyhoods are at stake here, that's why i think the compensation package should be very generous, to ensure that all aspects are covered - and I have stated this before.

[randell]

It might be just illegal netters in the upper Maroocht rv.
Dob them in to fishwatch
http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/28_12658.htm
fishwanttobe.
I know you are sick of this thread, but I'd just ring
1800 017 116 and tell them the story ..........
They will know if there are legal netters allowed in that area....
Don't worry about all the other talk on this forum, it;s not really helpfull.


anyway mate good luck...

randell

[fishinwahbee]

Thanks mate, this is helpful, will do tomorro, good on you for summing it up i was quiet overwhelmed. to tell all the truth i do not really care about the netters well being there is plenty of other jobs which would pay but not destroy ecosystems. i think banning them is right. The consumers will have to forget about Maroochy river produce and get it themselves. This raises another problem everyone will begin cast netting a drag netting for bait, i dont really know what to do? Fish farming if the funding was there... Im still going to call Fisheries. Im so confused :-[

[GABBA110360]

i'm curious to know is there any scientific evidence on the survival rate of fish hung up by there bottom lip for the purpose of ( look what i caught and i released it photos ).
i dont own lip grippers.
it's either big enough to eat or it's not.
since the thread is about fish survival thats my bit
ken

[jason p]

The netters usually net on the beach near the mouth of the Maroochy Rv. I've never seen them in the river itself.
Has anyone else seen them net in the river and where abouts..
randell


not so much netting but ive seen them trawling up past bli bli bridge several times.

jp

[mayer60]

I think we forget sometimes that we are all part of a community. For that community to function properly we need all types of occupations working within that community. For instance if your pushbike needs a new tube you go the bike shop, if your car needs repairing you need a mechanic and if you need a feed of fish well you know where that comes from.. I know you say if we get rid of fisherman then we will just catch our own and too bad about the rest of the community, well i know I don't mine coal but I still like to turn on the lights at nightime.. just something to think about...good fishing

[TheGurn]

ooooooooops.