History

[MitchCalcutt]

I have been lucky to have a friend like David Green now for many years, recently he passed onto me the first 30 Australian angler mag’s my father published. There’s been some great reading along the way, with some interesting similarities in the techniques used to catch fish. Jigging for example was hugely popular from even before the mag introduced it to those who weren’t in the know. Only the equipment stoped them from catching many more fish, with bust up’s being more common than landings.

As the mag went on I noticed a change in dad’s writing, from the obvious joy in his journeys and many experiences to a man who was clearly becoming a man under huge pressure to reproduce the good’s time and time again. By 1975 the joy had almost disappeared from his writing, letter’s to the editor were replied with extra vinegar and his personal column became more political than personal.

In reading these mag’s I couldn’t even begin to imagine the pressure he was under, but that’s not why I’m writing this. The reason is a sadder one.

From the beginning I read articles where so many fish were caught, the fisho’s literally walked on the fish laying on the deck and didn’t stop until the bait ran out or the fuel ran out. Not once did I read a mention of cleaning or freezing their catch. Many photos showed fish so dried out they wouldn’t have been edible, even back then. I understand the total lack of eskies that could hold a Ton of fish back then, it’s just hard to comprehend the volume of fish in comparison to today.

Other stories explained the age old technique of bait gathering. Photos of tubs filled with Garfish, mullet, hardy heads, prawns and god only knows what else. Methods of bait collecting varied from net to net depending on the state the article came from. This to amazed me as I have not seen this volume of bait in any creek since I was 6 years old.

It was easy to see the dramatic reduction in fish catches over the years by viewing 7 years over a couple of weeks, the stories of conservation from Vic Macristal were clear way back then, not too many people took much notice, and why should they, there were enough fish to go around then.

Considering fish have been around for millions of years and so called civilised man has only been here for a couple of thousand the fish haven’t been able to adapt to mans overwhelming need to catch more than he needs. Take a professional netter as a perfect example, he runs his net and leaves it for how ever long. When he clears his net he has in it his target fish as well as bi catch, all dead, nothing goes back alive. His catch gets loaded into tubs, nothing gets cleaned fresh that gets done by someone else a few days later. I couldn’t imagine 50% of his catch would be in what I call edible condition by the time it hits the shelf.

Our fishery in Australia once looked unlimited, so professional fisherman using nets became huge business. Everywhere from our estuaries to our oceans; targeting everything which got caught in them. I do not know the figures regarding how much is meant for our table or the tin, I can say whatever it is, it’s a joke. Give the government a bit of credit, they covered almost the entire food chain with only micro organisms spared.



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[MitchCalcutt]

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What burns me the most is the cat food industry, when was the last time you saw a cat go out to sea to catch a couple of pilchards? I can’t even imagine how many ton of fish goes into cat food simply because it went off before it could be sold at market. Fish isn’t even a natural food for our precious moggy.

This of cores is my belief; If the nets were taken away totally from fishing, the pro’s would think they were doomed. Think about it with an open mind; no nets = more fish, the demand for the supply would still be there. It would take time but given the fact they would have to use hook line and sinker to catch fish, the quality of fish to market would be much higher therefore worth more money. There wouldn’t be any bi catch, and the big cost factor of all, no net maintenance.

Being pro fisherman in the first place, they know where the fish are, why not get into chartering?
Fish farming is huge down south; how hard would it be to do it somewhere else?

We are a greedy species and history tells us we won’t stop until nothing is left. I do take this subject personally, since dad published these stories with those images. There weren’t many comments with the mention of sport in them, mostly killed and plenty of them.

As I sit writing this, I peer across at dad’s photo in his more mature years and wish I could ask him how he now feels about those days. Being the overly honest bloke he was, his answer would have most likely have been metaphorical to the point of being illegible. In other words covering his disgust with having to answer the question, who knows?

I do know that there are twice as many net’s out there now to catch the same amount of fish a small hand full did 35 years ago, and its getting worse with more and more feral fish making it to our shelves. Go to any fish shop and you will see tray after tray of beautiful fish which are so old their flesh resembles mashed potatoes. Totally inedible but still for sale with a dollar per kg that makes me just as sick.

I love my fishing and more importantly I love watching other people having fun catching fish. I hope we humans get it right before its too late. I’ve been reading a lot of threads from Ausfish and other chat sites with total admiration for those who write there, You catch what you need, you enjoy it as well you teach others who read your stories. I congratulate everyone for the love of fishing and the care you take in preserving the future of fishing.

My most sincere apologies to those who I have offended, hopefully not many.

[Greg P]

Good read Mitch and I agree with the sentiments. You're dad certainly inspired a lot of young fishos to pick up a rod and reel.


Cheers

Greg

[shin25]

top read mitch couldnt agree more

[NAGG]

Thanks Mitch , very well written .... Specially with regard to past practices ...in the name of sport... Fortunately today, fishing is seen by a growing number as something to preserve rather than abuse! ..... & in many instances its the younger generation that is leading the way! ...... The advent of digital cameras has allowed us to take a photo of our catch of the day ..... & then allow that fish to swim away !
I 'm pretty sure that most members would agree about the poor commercial practices that we saw in use during the past .... & that continue today! ..... Stop them! ..... & replace them with sustainable methods! ( Here in NSW ... we have run a program of Licence buy backs .... & the banning of commercial fishing in many of our estuaries ....... While we haven't gone far enough ... we are progressing! ..... Nagg
PS .... As kid & through my teenage years, I loved reading & watching your dads fishing ADVENTURES..... & that sense of adventure has driven my fishing passion to this day..... Many of those destinations become pilgrimages for me ( Narooma , Lord Howe Is , Batemans Bay & Hat Head) ..... Nagg

[artesian]

Hi Mitch, and Nagg,

Thanks for taking the time to share your feelings.

Because one believes something is right, doesn't make it so. I'm not so sure there are too many absolute wrongs, or rights, that all believe in.

The fishers, pro or amateur who killed, or who now kill, as much as they can within the law do so because they think it is right.

The catch and release brigade seem to be very sure they are right (I am one such from time to time, but am not so sure it is right for me). I have read that C&R is illegal in Germany.

I think most of us do the best we can in the times we live in, and with what we 'know' in those times. Of course there are some who live outside 'the rules' as well.

Mitch, your Dad's work inspired me, and I believe many others to be thoughtful and better fishers. I only knew him through his work, and it was an inspiration for me.

If Ron's enjoyment of fishing was diminished because of the high standards and heavy tasks he set for himself, I hope he derived a lot of satisfaction from a job well done.

You didn't speak about this directly, or maybe even indirectly, and I don't know you beyond what you write here, and what David G has written about you over the years. If my daughter turns out to be something like the kind of person you seem to be, I will be happy that I have done my job as a dad.

Nagg, re the buy out of pro licenses, if it is the same as in sunny qld, you may find that the intention is that the pro catch not be reduced, just that the number of pros be reduced. Same number of fish out of the water, but with less effort =cost, by less pros. If that is right, license $$$ is being used to pay out pros leaving the industry, and to also make the licenses of existing pros more valuable, because they can still catch the same quota. In saying all that they clearly aren't fishing in those few places now closed to pros but open to us mug amatuers, or those places closed to all but the divers.

[MitchCalcutt]

Hi Mitch, and Nagg,

Thanks for taking the time to share your feelings.

Because one believes something is right, doesn't make it so. I'm not so sure there are too many absolute wrongs, or rights, that all believe in.

The fishers, pro or amateur who killed, or who now kill, as much as they can within the law do so because they think it is right.

The catch and release brigade seem to be very sure they are right (I am one such from time to time, but am not so sure it is right for me). I have read that C&R is illegal in Germany.

I think most of us do the best we can in the times we live in, and with what we 'know' in those times. Of course there are some who live outside 'the rules' as well.

Mitch, your Dad's work inspired me, and I believe many others to be thoughtful and better fishers. I only knew him through his work, and it was an inspiration for me.

If Ron's enjoyment of fishing was diminished because of the high standards and heavy tasks he set for himself, I hope he derived a lot of satisfaction from a job well done.

You didn't speak about this directly, or maybe even indirectly, and I don't know you beyond what you write here, and what David G has written about you over the years. If my daughter turns out to be something like the kind of person you seem to be, I will be happy that I have done my job as a dad.

Nagg, re the buy out of pro licenses, if it is the same as in sunny qld, you may find that the intention is that the pro catch not be reduced, just that the number of pros be reduced. Same number of fish out of the water, but with less effort =cost, by less pros. If that is right, license $$$ is being used to pay out pros leaving the industry, and to also make the licenses of existing pros more valuable, because they can still catch the same quota. In saying all that they clearly aren't fishing in those few places now closed to pros but open to us mug amatuers, or those places closed to all but the divers.

Hi there,
Your right in what you say, The governing bodys who make the decisions are led to there conclusions and rulings by people with calculators. Our fish stocks are down and I believe the only way to get them back will hert alot of people. Or will we become the same as other places in the world with no fish left at all.

Mitch Calcutt

PS Dad did love his work, Particulaly his photography

[Horse]

Ron was the top of his field and his writing greatly influenced me as a fisherman. The passion and credibility of the core writers from that era leave the current crop a long way behind . I still pull out some mags from '74 and marvel at the techniques and ideas being used. When others"discover" these methods and claim them as their own decades later it really amuses me .

A lot of Ausfishers tell me that the fishing in Moreton Bay has never been better. I disagree strongly . I reckon their point of view would change if I put these blokes out in a little tinny with no GPS or sounder, a solid glass rod and clunky reel filled with harsh mono. Add a few brass swivels and a handfull of blunt hooks. This was all that was needed to get a feed in the Bay back in the early 70's. We now use advanced techniques, high technology equipment and state of the art software to put a feed in the boat .
I am not totally opposed to commercial fishing but I believe that there is a time and a place for everything. Some practices should probably be restricted more heavily in areas like Moreton Bay. Inshore netting and especially trawling is one of my concerns and possibly we should be looking at sunset clauses and financial restitution for some licenses in the future.
One of the reasons I am not jumping on board the new fishing lobby group is the close affiliation with ALL commercial fishers . I feel we are two distinct user groups fighting for a limited and at times over utilised resource. Work together by all means but rec fishos must make a stand against wastefull and unsustainable commercial practices and in some high poulation areas fight for a greater share of the resource.

Regards

Neil Dransfield

[nigelr]

Great post Mitch, I'm sure your thoughtful sentiments are shared by the majority of, if not all, the members of this site.
Thanks also to the other contributors for expressing their opinions.
As a NSW Rec fishing licence holder, I would agree with NAGG, we have a long way to go with making our 'buy back' scheme the best it can be for licence holders.
I live on the Bellinger River in NSW, which is a designated Rec Fishing Haven. While pro fishers are excluded from working the river, travelling commercial beach haulers are allowed to net fish at the river mouth as they leave the river system each Autumn.
While ostensibly targetting 'sea' mullet, their major $$$ are earned from by-catch such as mulloway, bream etc. Personally I find this completely legal practice to be in total contradiction with the purpose of buy-back. I can tell you mulloway catches in this vicinity have been extremely poor at best this past winter/spring, which I feel is in no small way due to a reputedly substantial catch of mulloway taken by beach haulers in June this year. Leaves a very bad taste in the mouths of many local rec licence holders I can assure you. This is not the only occasion this practice has occured in recent years, the same mob enacted the exact same scenario 3 or 4 years ago, with the same results.
Apologies for mounting the soap-box, however I believe this issue of beach hauling is a bone of contention amongst many rec fishos, both here in NSW and Qld.
As far as a model of fish stocks management/conservation is concerned, Iceland is a shining example. If they can do it, why can't we??????
http://www.worldseafishing.com/adven...than_cod.shtml
Cheers and once again thanks to all for taking the time to express their opinions.

[Matt_Campbell]

I can tell you mulloway catches in this vicinity have been extremely poor at best this past winter/spring, which I feel is in no small way due to a reputedly substantial catch of mulloway taken by beach haulers in June this year

Do you think it may have something to do with the poor state of the river entrance? With the shallow water stopping the mulloway from entering the river?

[nigelr]

Hi Matt.
Thanks for your question, in reply to which, no I do not think the poor state of the river mouth stops mulloway entering the river, however I would agree it may make the river less attractive to them as a habitat, and as such may indeed lead to lesser numbers of mulloway being present within the system.
The mouth of the river has been badly silted for many years, and is only cleared after a substantial flood. Even then it closes up again over the next few months.
However this has not stopped good catches of mulloway being taken during previous years, the fish will manage to enter/exit the river as they presumably always have.
My contention is that if a large proportion of those mulloway exiting the river during the 'mullet run' are taken by beach haulers, then this event will have an impact on number of mulloway caught from the adjacent beaches/rocks during the proceding months.
I would further contend that allowing beach hauling at the mouth of a declared Rec Fishing Haven is counter-productive to the interests of Rec Licence holders, whose fees pay for the establishment of RFHs and the subsequent buy outs of commercial fishers operating within the Haven areas.
Cheers.

[MitchCalcutt]

It’s great to hear other fisho’s airing their concerns. Once again it’s apparent the almighty dollar has decided the outcome of our fisheries in favour of the organisation that is in question from the outset. Isn’t that commonly known as bribery?
Thanks to everyone who took the time to read my thread and reply with interest. It is a subject that has in the past been decided by money and not scientific facts.

I was fishing a sand bank in the Coomera river a few years back, on the Friday we caught whiting, bream and Garfish for the entire tide. Next day zilch, found out from another bloke that bank had been netted that night. Results speak for themselves.

Thanks again

Mitch

[dunmears]

Hi Mitch, Many years ago I wrote an article on lure making, I was very proud of my little article. I sent the story to your fathers magazine " The Australian Angler". Your father contacted me and invited me around to his home ( I think it was in Sans Sousi ) in Sydney. I was only twenty years old at the time and he made myself and my future wife so welcome in his home as he chatted to me about my article. He told me that he would publish my story and I was the proudest young bloke alive. The article duly appeared in the "angler" in March 1971 ( I still have the magazine) the cover showed two bass lying in very green long grass with a rod and reel beside them. I received $35 for my efforts which was a substantial sum to a twenty year old in those days. I was very sad to learn of your fathers passing, I was very grateful for what he did for me.- Brian.

[artesian]

By crikey I'm over typing posts that get gobbled up by a refresh or similar on this site.

Rumour has it that pros were paid to stop fishing Pumicestone Passage, and accepted that payment, only to set up tunnel nets just outside the closure area.

Legal, apparently. Moral? who knows or cares..............

[MitchCalcutt]

Hi Mitch, Many years ago I wrote an article on lure making, I was very proud of my little article. I sent the story to your fathers magazine " The Australian Angler". Your father contacted me and invited me around to his home ( I think it was in Sans Sousi ) in Sydney. I was only twenty years old at the time and he made myself and my future wife so welcome in his home as he chatted to me about my article. He told me that he would publish my story and I was the proudest young bloke alive. The article duly appeared in the "angler" in March 1971 ( I still have the magazine) the cover showed two bass lying in very green long grass with a rod and reel beside them. I received $35 for my efforts which was a substantial sum to a twenty year old in those days. I was very sad to learn of your fathers passing, I was very grateful for what he did for me.- Brian.

Thanks very much for your reply. I have that copy of Aus angler I'll read the artical a bit later.
I remember San Sousi, Thats where Dad started the mag next to a window off the loungroom. I still have some photos of that unit. Great hearing from you.