Fish what fish

[mossy43]

Hi folks has anybody noticed the decline in fish numbers being caught or the lack of fish around your favourite haunt. I am not talking about the depletion of fish species like snapper or mackerel due to the fact that the bag limits are the large or just stupidity of some of our fellow fisher people catching more then they need but the actual decline in fish numbers due to something else. For instance I keep a record of the fish that I catch, the weather conditions, the amount of fish shown on the colour sounder etc etc and over the last 12 months or more precisely the last 6-8 months I have noticed that the fish regardless of species have not been there or have not been there in the numbers they use to be and even some species being up to 2 months late in showing their heads. I have also noticed that the water temperature is hotter then this time last year, there has been more strong winds affecting the fish ability of these places which should improve their ability to breed etc etc. Now we all know that some of the fish species are being depleted due to some and possibility more reasons then I have mentioned above or is there some other contributing factors we have all missed. I would like to hear from as many other people about their ideas or conclusions as to why there is a decline in fish numbers, why the fish are not returning to their normal breeding grounds. What do YOU think? Mossy ???

[jaybee]

don't mean to sound Cynical here but did you read what was being said about the tailor ris or proposed netting of pilchards ??? I am ringing the local member tomorrow to try and have a talk to the government concerning this after sending them an email ..but it appears not too many are interested except to talk about it

[mossy43]

Jaybee I don't mean to sound Cynical either but it is obvious that you did not read my thread properly. The point I am putting forward and the question I am asking is for other possible contributing factors in this problem of declining fish stocks we are facing. We cannot blame it on one or two particular groups of people. As I said in my first thread what about the warmer sea temperature, change in the weather conditions etc they must have some bearing on the decline of fish numbers as well. Oh and yes I have read the tailor ris and received many e-mails in regards to it and other situations regarding this problem. No body knows more about these situations then the locals here in Hervey Bay in particular the slaughter of mackerel in the Wathumba Creek area of Fraser Island, the tailor fishing on Fraser Island and even the decline of whiting down the straights due to over fishing etc. I come form a professional fishing family although my family has been out of it now for about 10 years but I still have many relatives still there. I do not stand for the professional fisherman nor do I stand for any other body of people. I hope I am like you, standing for the betterment of fishing in general so that in years to come our grandchildren have some fish to catch and eat. I simply would like to see other comment people might have re this situation. Mossy ???

[mossy43]

Jaybee I am not very good at explaining something’s when it comes down to putting words on paper but you have my vote in what you and others are doing and I give you credit for it. If I can help in other ways you know my e-mail address. I think the best way to combat your local member is to plant a seed into his or her mind so that he or she feels that they have thought of these brilliant suggestions and ideas and you might have a better chance with your request and or complaints rather then trying to meet them head on. It is like fishing if you dangle some bait out in front of a fish most of the time you will catch him. Food for thought. Mossy ???

[jaybee]

Sorry Mossy but I may have been a bit too blunt..however regardless of who is raping the sea..i personally beleive the government and us (the people) need to look at where we are going. Other then fishing (professional or amatuer) the weather has also a lot to do with our stocks. Therefore conservation by both professional and amatuers need to be taken into consideration as we cannot control the weather but we can however control conservation of the species To the best of our ability. Like you I also come from a family of professional fishers from burrum heads and like you I would like to see a future where our childrens children can go down to the sea and catch a feed. No good whinning that we cant control the weather because we cant however a few well placed votes can control the conservation of the fish stocks (HOPEFULLY) So it may be not due to the rising temps of the water etc..it could be due to both the stocks being depleted and the mangrove foreshores that bring the fish to once was their natrual habitat. I am not an expert but from what I have read and seen destroying one habit is a domino affect and we need to learn not to be the leading domino. Take the trees away you have no shade or water.. Maybe you would like to bring this point up with the governmet ..but its up to you ..just my personal opinion...In addition like you I would like to know why our fish stocks are waning.. ??? ??? ??? if none of the above apply

[Kerry]

Yes Mossy there are probably a heap of "other" things that affect fish apart from what some see as the master cause but when it's all said and done if we understood it all then probably so much worse for the fish.

I suupose it's akin to going to the football grounds on Monday, everybugga's gone home but be there Sunday and the place is totally different. There's reasons for most things but sometimes what that reason is can be hard to define.

The weather obviously has a lot to do with things as far as wind, temp and rain over both the long and short terms. he old saying "drought on the land drought in the sea" is very close to the mark and especially around here the past few months there been absolutely no rain (and it should be the wet season) and it's been the hottest for the longest ever recorded so obviously things they are a changing. Got to have some affect in all areas. When the North Westerlies were blowing that mongrel heat it's normally the time of year for South easterlies but as far as the weather goes these days I've given up picking it.

Then there's the question are the fish there or not? As an example last Thursday we fished some normal haunts but I thought we had just missed the right time of the tide as for about the first half-an-hour (obviously the fish were there) things were promising but then all went quite apart from the occasional odd one or 2.

Went back to the same place Saturday, the tide was latter, we were earlier (on past experiences and based on Thursday's activities things should have been ideal) and it really was like a football ground on a Monday. Not a bloddy thing.

Eventually shifted some distance and immediately what was noticeable on the first drop was the difference in water clarity, probably down to 60-70 feet. Anybody whose seen emperor coming up in that type of water will know what I mean. Totally different but it wasn't simply the area, so was it the water, the tide or what?

Now if one asked why fish don't return to the bay here in numbers like they used to well one just simply has to look at the on shore development and general condition of the water. If I was a fish I wouldn't like to live in a slum either.


Cheers, Kerry.

[Volvo]

G'day Mossy, mate what can i say except for me every year seems to get better than the last??. many reasons could contribute for this eg; advent of GPS?? and maybe spending more time reading weather, tides and moon phases. But honestly i feel fishing here is just as good if not Much better than it was twenty year ago for most of the species i chase ey.
Like Kerry said you only have ta be their an hour out and yourve missed em till maybe another 6, twelve or whatever hours till they come back on the chew again.
And for some areas where mass population exists ?? maybe yes the fish move off a little further where it may be quieter?? , who knows ???.
Cheers

[Lucky_Phill]

Hey Mossy,

Mate, so many factors contribute to certain developments.

The fish story can go like this<

weather, climate. .....new chemicals. ......water run off from the mainland. ...... commercial activities.......recreational activities.......development..........cycles.....t echnoligy, and of course there is always,,, mother nature.

I believe that the advent of the GPS, economic upswing and easerly accessed information contribute to and offshore decline. The weather plays an enormous part in the Bay, estuary systems,,,ie:- non flushing rains.

Mate, the old sayings still ring true.

Flood on land..... ....Flood at sea.
Drought on Land......drought at sea.

Of course there can be too much information around, which only causes concern and confushion. Let's go back to basics. try that !!!!

The lack of fish could also start at the very begining of the food chain.....planktons etc. if that area of the bio-diversity is affected, then the whole food chain upwards has problems. Also think of the Habitat.

Mate. it's a long story,, and I don't know if it has a happy ending....... ???

[krazyfisher]

something that was said to me that made me think was " I can understand the fish not being around mackeral etc maybe over fishing but where has all the bait fish gone" this made me think and it can be harder to get bait than it is to get a fish just something to think about. But other than that the fishing around my spots are only getting better I can pick up the odd coral trout sweet lip and many others with in 5 mins of the boat ramp but hey that north queensland for you.