BARRA DEBATE

[Dr_Dan]

HEY ALL. WELL IT'S COME AROUND AGAIN. THAT TIME OF YEAR WHEN THE BARRA ARE WELL AND TRULY OFF LIMITS [smiley=bigcry.gif] [smiley=bigcry.gif] [smiley=bigcry.gif] [smiley=bigcry.gif]. FROM MIDDAY NOVEMBER 1, NO MORE BARRA CAN BE TARGETED. IT AGAIN BRINGS UP AN INTERESTING POINT. LAST YEAR, THERE WERE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE BOOKED [smiley=policeman.gif] IN TOWNSVLLE FOR TARGETING BARRA, NOT KEEPING THEM, JUST TARGETING. THESE PEOPLE WERE FISHING IN FRESHWATER (A STOCKED IMPOUNDMENT, IE THE ROSS RIVER WEIRS), AND WERE BOOKED.

I REALISE THAT IT RESULTED IN A NUMBER OF GOOD POINTS BEING RAISED LAST YEAR. JUST CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT IDEAS ARE FLOATING AROUND OUT THERE, AND WHAT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT PEOPLE GETTING BOOKED WHEN FISHING IN FRESHWATER.

HOPE THE SEASON WAS A GOOD ONE FOR ALL WHO HAD THE CHANCE TO CATCH ONE. IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE CHANCE, YOU BETTER MOVE UP TO THE REAL QLD, UP IN THE NORTH THAT IS!!!!! [smiley=2thumbsup.gif]
[smiley=2thumbsup.gif] [smiley=2thumbsup.gif] [smiley=2thumbsup.gif]

CHEERS
DAN

[Fisheasy]

No possibility they were fishing for something else? I know people use that excuse for murray cod in closed season ie. they were fishing for yellowbelly
(they do release them)

[Dr_Dan]

When they are using large live mullet, there isn't much else that will take the bait.

[Barrymundi]

Hi Dan,

You sure this actually hapened ?

I think it was a good story that become truth.

The Barra is a target fish all year round for a lot of anglers.

Very hard to enforce and very hard not to catch Barra out of season when we have so many of the bloody things around here.

[whiteman]

Whenever I use live mullet I catch Mangrove Jacks!

[Barrymundi]

You are using the wrong type Whiteman.

Lift the dorsal fin. If you see little black spots that is the best mullet for Barra. No black spots on the dorsal and you dont normally get barra, that is why you are only catching crappy old jacks

[Dr_Dan]

ALAN.

AS FAR AS I KNOW, IT REALLY HAPPENED. AS I SAID, THERE WAS A FAIRLY HEATED DEBATE OVER THE MEANING AND WORDING OF THE LAW, AND WHETHER THERE IS ANY REASON FOR SUCH A LAW.

FROM WHAT I CAN GATHER, IN THE ROSS RIVER, EVEN THOUGH IT IS A CLOSED IMPOUNDMENT, AND SUCH THE BARRA HAVE BEEN STOCKED, IN TIMES OF FLOOD, THE BARRA ACTUALLY DO SURVIVE THE FALL OVER THE WEIRS, AND REACH THE SALTWATER, GIVEN THEM THE POTENTIAL TO SPAWN.

ALSO ALAN, I WAS ORIGINALLY UNDER THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE LAW WAS FOR TAKING OF BARRA. AS FAR AS I KNOW, THIS IS WHAT THE LAW ACTUALLY STATES. BUT THEN IT COMES DOWN TO, WHAT DOES TAKING MEAN. I BELIEVE IT TO BE, TAKING THE FISH (AS IN KILLING THEM), BUT THE AUTHORITIES SEEM TO MEAN TARGETING AS WELL AS TAKING.

WHILE I UNDERSTAND THAT IF YOU ARE FISHING IN THE SALTWATER REACHES OF A RIVER, YES, THERE IS A HIGH POSSIBILITY THAT A BARRA MAY BE ACCIDENTLY HOOKED. IF SO, I BELIEVE THAT MOST ANGLERS WOULD DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO ENSURE THAT THE BARRA IS RELEASED WITH AS LITTLE HARM AS POSSIBLE. BUT WITH THE CASE OF THE ROSS RIVER, THERE WERE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WERE BOOKED, FOR FISHING IN THE WEIR WITH LARGE MULLET AT NIGHT. THERE ISN'T ANYTHING THAT I AM AWARE OF OTHER THAN BARRA THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO BE TAKEN THIS WAY.

I ASKED THE QUESTION LASTYEAR AS TO WHY PEOPLE WEREN'T ABLE TO TARGET BARRA, (PRACTICING CATCH AND RELEASE OF COURSE). APPARENTLY, AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, THE FEMALES ALL CONGREGATE IN CERTAIN AREAS (IE CREEK MOUTHS ETC). WITH ALL THE FEMALES IN ONE AREA, THEY MAKE AN EASY TARGET FOR ANGLERS. THE STRESS CAUSED BY THE CAPTURE OF A BARRA FROM THE SCHOOL WASHES OFF TO THE WHOLE SCHOOL, AND CAN DELAY THE SPAWNING PROCESS. AND AS THE BARRA HAVE SUCH A SMALL WINDOW IN WHICH THEY CAN SPAWN, AND THE CONDITIONS HAVE TO BE RIGHT, THE CAPTURE AND RELEASE OF EVEN JUST ONE FISH HAS THE POTENTIAL TO HALT THE WHOLE SPAWN PROCESS FOR THAT PARTICULAR SEASON.

ONCE AGAIN, I HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS IS A TOPIC THAT IS REALLY A QUESTION ON HOW ONE INTERPRETS THE RULE.

I AM STILL INTERESTED IN HEARING WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK ABOUT THE RULE ETC.

CHEERS
DAN

[PG]

Perhaps the people booked were booked for fishing too close to the weir.
Although:
The Queensland freshwater regs state "take and possession limits" which is described as "the number of fish that one person can legally take and keep."
The section on closed seasons states "Closed seasons prevent people from fishing at certain times of the year and protect species at particularly vulnerable times of their life cycle such as spawning seasons" hence the closed season on Barra.
Sounds to me like targeting a species is seen as a violation of the closed season rules.
Perhaps this is why most of the fishing comps that target Barra, are held outside the barra season?
Thoughts? I can see a good reason for holding off on the fish for just a couple of months.

[Dr_Dan]

I DON'T DISAGREE PAUL. IF CATCHING BARRA DOES ACTUALLY HALT THEIR BREEDING PROCESS, THEN I'M ALL FOR BOOKING PEOPLE WHO ARE DELIBERATLY TARGETING THEM. BUT THE RULE HAS TO BE CLEARER, AND EVERYONE HAS TO UNDERSTAND THE REASONS FOR IT.
BUT ONE THING THAT I CAN'T UNDERSTAND IS THAT CATCHING, AND RELEASING A BARRA UNHARMED APPARENTLY STRESSES THEM TO SUCH A STATE THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO BREED. BUT FOR THE FISH IN THE ROSS RIVER TO BREED, THEY HAVE TO GO OVER AT LEAST ONE (MAYBE UP TO THREE) WEIRS. NOW THE DROP ON THE WEIRS ARE A GOOD 6 OR MORE METERS. SOULDN'T A 6 METER FALL STRESS A BARRA OUT MORE THAN CATCH AND RELEASE. I KNOW THAT BARRA CAN SURVIVE THE FALL OVER THE WEIR, AS MANY THAT HAVE BEEN TAGGED IN THE RIVER HAVE BEEN CAUGHT IN THE SALT WATER REACHES, AS FAR NORTH AS THE HINGHINBROOK CHANNEL I BELIEVE.

THANX FOR EVERYONES VIEWS. KEEP THEM COMING

DAN

[PG]

This may sound hyprocritical but I'm heading out to target Barra early in the morning with a few mates. Also targeting Tarpon and gar but Barra will be a prized catch purely for the sport. I'm gonna chase up the local fisheries guys next week and get their opinions on this, maybe clear it up for us. Let's hope it's not one of those "interpretation' encounters that never seem to get resolved.
P.S. Took my son fishing this morning, he landed his first Barra, 76cm. To say he was happy is an understatement.

[Dr_Dan]

CONGRATS TO THE YOUNG FELLA PAUL. HELL OF A GOOD BARRA FOR A FIRST CATCH. LETS HOPE THERE ARE MANY MORE TO COME

DAN

[Mad_Barry]

Dr Dan, I'd like to here more info on the chaps "booked" on the ross weirs, if anything just to clear up some of the, ifs, buts & maybes.

I don't se a prob in targeting the stocked freshies in the closed season, as for the salties, well that's another matter, leave them breed in peace ,

[krazyfisher]

I asked a question like this last year barra can not be targeted in the close season not for sport not for any reason. It is allowed in some impoundments and in these waters one barra maybe kept. Catching barra does stress them no mater how good we are at releasing them if they are stressed they will not breed and with no rain around they need as much help as they can get.

[Dr_Dan]

HI GUYS. THANX FOR THE VIEWS FROM EVERYONE. I FOUND THE ORIGINAL QUESTION THAT I POSTED LAST YEAR, ITS ON PAGE 60 OF GENERAL CHAT IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED.
SORRY ALAN. I DIN'T REALISE THAT YOU WERE IN THE ORIGINAL QUESTION. MADE SOME GOOD POINTS.

I COPIED AN INTERESTING BIT OF INFO FROM MEMBER VERN-VEITCH.

DPI Press Release below:
21 January 2002
DPI warns: Out of season barra catches don't benefit anyone
EAST Coast barra enthusiasts who can’t wait until February 1 to catch a fish should consider the ramifications of deliberately fishing for barra in the closed season.
Fishers who set out to target barra in the closed season– even those who release their catch – can undo the gains for local barra populations that have come from years of fishery management. Illegal barra fishing can disrupt spawning activities that may not be repeated again until the next season.
Department of Primary Industries principal fisheries biologist Rod Garrett, from the Northern Fisheries Centre in Cairns, said barramundi needed very special conditions to spawn, and these occurred on only a few occasions during the summer months.
"When you’re dealing with wild fish that aren’t accustomed to being handled, if you catch them during a spawning episode then the stress will cause them to cease the activity. They may not be able to recover until the next suitable spawning time comes around, which could be a few weeks later or even next year," Mr Garrett said.
He said barra were particularly vulnerable during spawning times because they clustered into an "aggregation" at certain locations along the coast– a great temptation for some fishers keen on catching the prized fish.
"Where there are only a few fish in the aggregation, then the disturbance from fishing can be enough to disrupt the whole group and then none of them might spawn."
The closed season for barramundi, first introduced in Queensland in the early 1980’s, is a cornerstone of fishery management measures put in place to boost barra populations from significantly low levels in the past.
There are two closed seasons in Queensland, the east coast closure (from 1st November to 1st February each year) and the Gulf closure (the dates of which vary from year to year but cover the major spawning moons from October to January).
As a management tool, the seasonal closures act to protect barra when they are spawning and when they are most vulnerable to fishing.
Other elements of the fishery management strategy for barramundi include gear restrictions, area closures, and size and bag limits.
The Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol enforces the closed season regulations throughout the state, and there are steep penalties for offenders.
"There’s no doubt that catching a decent sized barra is at the top of many anglers’ wish list," QB&FP district officer Tom McNamara said.
"Many people have friends and relatives who visit them during the summer who are eager to go out and hook a barra, even if it’s to photograph it and let it go.
"But catching the fish during its spawning period has serious ramifications, not only for that fish, but for members of its spawning group and of course robs the fishery of hundreds of potential fingerlings.
"Not to mention that the person catching the fish, whether they’re part of a tour group, with friends or relatives or on their own, can be liable for hefty fines.
"We also call upon all persons whether they be serious anglers or just enjoy the water to kept an eye out for illegal activities and if sighted ring our hotline number 1800 017 116," Mr McNamara said.
Further information Tom McNamara QB&FP Ph 47 72 7311 Rod Garrett Nthn Fisheries Centre Ph 40 350 100 Andrea Corby Media Officer Ph 47 222 648


ONCE AGAIN, THANX FOR EVERYONES VIEW. IT'S OBVIOUS TO SEE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM OUT THERE WITH PEOPLE'S UNDERSTANDING OF THE LAW. IF THEY CAN'T UNDERSTAND THE LAW, HOW ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE DOING WRONG?

CHEERS
DAN

[thargor]

Check the fisheries regulation guys.

I think you will find that it would be near impossible to impose fines on people "targeting barra" during the closed season.

Elements of the effence must be proven right? so....

It can be very hard to prove "intention" and if so what intention would there be? Intention to catch and release? That is not an offence under the current regulation. Intention to keep - that is an offence.

You will find that there are exculpatory provisions in the regulation regarding "regulated fish" and if you "accidently" catch them. As long as you immediately release them back to the water unharmed then you have not committed an offence.

I find it hard to believe that fishers are being fined for "targeting" a regulated fish and are immediately releasing them back to the water. Even an admission in an interview from these fishers would be iffy in court....

I have to agree that targeting barra during their spawning season does more harm than good. A caught fish does go through a lot of stress, no matter how you look at it. As such best leave them to do their business well so we have more fish to catch in the future. Only have to wait a few months for it to be over.