Time out for Qld Gulf barra ... : NQ Barra

Matt Flynn · Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2011 5:38 pm Post subject: Time out for Qld Gulf barra ...

Queensland Government
Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation
Fisheries Queensland

Media Release
October 14, 2011

Barramundi off limits in Gulf

Fishers are being reminded that barramundi are now off limits in the Gulf of Carpentaria until midday January 30, 2012.

Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol District Officer Dan Stampa said the closure was in place to protect barramundi stocks at a vulnerable time in their lifecycle.

“During spawning, millions of eggs will be laid, but only a few will survive the natural selection process,” he said.

“This is because barramundi typically aggregate in one area to spawn, making them more vulnerable to predators.

“This behaviour also makes them more vulnerable to fishing pressure so it is important that barramundi are not targeted for catch and release during a closed season as the stress of capture may prevent the fish from spawning.

“Closed seasons ensure that barramundi will be around for future generations to enjoy so everyone should fish responsibly during this time.”

A barramundi closure will also apply in East Coast waters from midday November 1, 2011 until February 1, 2012.

For more information on closures visit www.fisheries.qld.gov.au or call 13 25 23.

ENDS

Moonman

Fair call I reckon... Got my first big girl over that way and would love to get back there one day and repeat that effort...

Cheers
Moonman

passenger279

Matt, do you think it's the right thing to do as a fisho? I don't mean the law I mean not targeting big fish for catch and release in the river mouths in the build up here in the NT? Or do you think it's enough to have some of the bigger places closed off like they are?

Lats

Fair question 279 and bound to have people on both sides of the fence. Policing would be hard though.

passenger279

I don't mean as a new law here either, I just mean, the right thing to do as per people in the know..

itsinmeblood

what's left of em will get a break...we did our yearly trip out that way the last week of september and arrived as a boat was just finishing up in the creeks we fish, couldn't pull hardly a scale out of the 3 creeks up the coast...one tiny shallow creek that they didn't net gave us plenty of fun and across the border in NT a bigger creek that wasn't netted went ballistic for the day we spent there...4 boats trolling and flicking getting a hit every 5 minutes or so, not only were the barra decimated jacks goldies cod queenies were all absent from the creeks that had piles of rotting frames heaped on the banks
I guess if they completely wipe out barra populations in very remote areas prior to the closed season...there's not many who will see the damage done

cuddlescooper

passenger279 wrote:

I don't mean as a new law here either, I just mean, the right thing to do as per people in the know..

I think barra fishing in the NT is only going from strenght to strenght and at the moment has enough laws and restrictions for it to keep getting bigger and better. With a few more net buy backs it will be an awsome fishery right accross the NT in my veiw. :mrgreen:

I think the couple of seasonal closures are giving the main breeding areas a good rest and time for stocks to regenerate. A lot of the best fishing areas (billabong wise) are on aboriginal land and stations as well so juviniles have plenty of ground to do there thing and get to be breeders. All is good here in my veiw for the time being and for seeable future.

springs

The boys went up late Sept and did OK Spring Creek way, poltis work. Most fish are what i call 7 inch models. They are skinny and appear to have evolved so they can turn sideways and just fit thru net. It is amazing that there are any left considering something like 60 plus licences in Gulf.

olfart

I tend to agree with CC on this, apart from the w..nkers who feel the need to take every thing they hook.. the larger fishing community here tend to be more in tune with the concept of preserving/protecting our fish resources..I've quite often, during fishing sorties around the traps, overheard local fisho's informing newcomers of the way things are done in the NT. Most genuine fisho's whether local or newcomer are astute enough to realise the value of the advice, and do the right thing. As for the d...heads ...The info is usually delivered in a far less amiable manner..case in point..Some years ago a massive old man cod was hooked on the wharf.. The pr..cks borrowed a port authority f/lift to drag it onto the deck..6hrs later it finally gave up the ghost..it was given to the 2mile camp people who buried it as if it were a close relative..Several weeks later, the clowns who caught it were on the wharf skiting about it...somehow they both managed to "trip" over and fall into the drink. We have, without doubt, the greatest fishing asset in the country..as evinced by the number of people who come here solely to catch a barra.. For many..their first..It's up to US to ensure that we never allow that to be jeopardised in any way...Just me twobob's worth on the subject. :mrgreen:

Incidently..the Museum boffins put the age of the cod at being here BEFORE settlement..It was over 400kg. :evil:

Matt Flynn

The NT Govt has not yet bought back all the net licences it pledged - once that is done the NT will be moving towards an even better fishery, less reliant on mammoth wet seasons for superb fishing.

Unfortunately there is a belief among some fisheries managers that rec fishos will come whether there are two fish or 2000 in a river.

As for seasonal closures, there has been no study I am aware of about how boat and fishing activity affects spawning. There might be a good argument that boats disrupt spawning activity, and if so seasonal closures might be worth their weight in gold.

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