Canal fishing question

[prawnfrog]

When fishing the canal system on the G.C in either a boat or kayak. Is there a rule as to how close to shore you can go, where peoples property back down to the waters edge??

[udlman]

They own the land to the high water mark. You can fish anywhere, but it is good practice not to get out on the shore. If people have a go at you for fishing in 'their' water, be polite and move 50m or so and start fishing again.

HTH, Brad.

[prawnfrog]

yeah i thought that was the case. I was out this morning with my young fellow flicking a few plastics. I was working a rock ledge and was prob 30 meters from shore (No jetty or anything off his yard just a rocky wall) when some big ape that could hardly speak english came out yelling at me, He was saying i was not allowed to be so close to the shore. I couldn't believe it as we were quite some distance away actually. He took my boat rego and said he was reporting me to council. I said i was unaware of any such rule and proceded to move on. He continued to yell & said you people will never learn and you should all know the rules by now. I said its the first time ive fished this area mate and i will move on to keep you happy. All he had to do was ask in the first place if i could move on instead of being such an arrogant knob. Im just glad my young fellow was with me otherwise i probably would have reacted differently!!

[Member101]

I believe in amongst all the p's and q's, people who are rude like that are often saying ' i would like to offer my backyard, above the high tide mark, for your availability to dump unused bait and fish frames that you may have so you dont need to take them home with you.' but thats just mmy understanding of rude jibberish.

Steve

[sleepygreg]

Firstly to qualify myself....I live in a Canal estate, though on a dry block. I have quite a number of friends who live on canal blocks, and many more 'aquaintences' that live on Canal blocks. Most of the friends are fishos, and most (not all) of the 'aquaintences' are not fishos (yachties or not into water sports at all). I have lost count of the number of times I have reminded them (both lots) that they bought the house and land, not the water and whats in it. The land and water from the high tide mark down is public property, but still subject to the same laws re behaviour as if it was the street running past the front of the property. (maritime laws replacing road laws re traffic).

Having said that, I can understand why some have a go at some fishos for being twits and inconsiderate in their behaviour...like yahooing and crash banging around at 3am in the morning, or setting strings of crab pots in narrow canals (bearing in mind most of these canals dont hae enough water depth from mid tide down to allow two 35' boats to pass each other..let alone alter course to avoid crab pot floats. Or one of my mates who got up some fishos one day...now this guy is a mad keen fisho himself...Happens to own a 51 Riv..which a number of members on here would know very well, plus a 5m CC which he uses to fish close bay and river, plus a smaller tinny which HE uses to fish the canals. He was in the boat doing some 'housekeeping' one day and heard this continual thudding and tapping on his hull...couldnt figure it out till he came up on deck and there was a couple of blokes in a very well set up "bream/bass boat" bouncing their lures off the hull of his boat....lets just say they got a very forceful lesson (verbal) on where and how to fish in the canals (ettiquette). Let me ask you what you would do if there were people walking along your street throwing little rocks at you car parked in your driveway?

I know the vast majority of people on this forum wouldnt embark on any of these behaviours, but i just wanted to put it into perspective as to why some of these people act the way they do. That bloke that threatened and abused for fishing in the canal is full of p#ss and wind. Unless you are damaging property or disobeying civil laws (noise, pollution etc) it is perfectly legal to fish in the canals. Though much easier if a little bit of ettiquette is also used (avoid conflict and be allowed to fish in peace).

Greg

[cuzzamundi]

By the sounds of it your behaviour and method weren't an issue AT ALL! You did nothing wrong, mate. Fish there all you want. $^&* him! That water's yours as much as it is his.

Cuzza