North Australian FISH FINDER TM forums

Here’s a thought for you all.
Let’s neck the big girls. And only the big girls.

I hear all the do-gooders nay-naying this. Those that bag those fisho’s silly enough to post a photo of a dead metrey (which is their right – btw). But are all too willing to keep their bag limit of say what? Fish between 60 & 80?

Some facts;
Boys mature (first spawn) @ 55cms (year 2)
Females start breeding @ 80cms (year 3)
Females first breeding up to 2m eggs.
Females @ 1 meter (year may drop 32m eggs. (On average that’s an increase of 8m eggs/yr)

Why not have the min size – 1 Meter. (I hear powertail cooked right is just like Barra)
All those 50 – 60 – 65cm Barra are next years’ females (that are currently kept)
She will drop 42m eggs by the time she gets to 1 meter.
Imaging how many breeding females we have just introduced.

Can you imagine how healthy the system would be in 5 – 8 years?

Yes people (anglers & pro’s alike) will suffer, but only in the short term. Then the tonnage would slowly increase and with fewer but bigger fish.

The Forum has been a bit quiet of late (and I have too much time on my hands) so I thought I would throw this up as another point of view.

Examples of typical length to age relationship are:

1-Year-old 30-40cm long,

2 Years old 50-60cm long,

3 Years old 60-80cm long, and

8 Years old 1 Metre long.

I have a self imposed limit of 2 fish 55-80. I couldn't bring my self to necking 1 mtr+ fish plus they aren't as good to eat as the smaller ones. Interesting theory though

I have a self imposed limit like seano, and I perfer to keep the by-catch, like jacks, threadies and goldies. Bigger fish are pain in the ass to fillet anyway. I dont make a habit of trying to feed the world either, but I do throw a feed over to my parents and my sister every now and then.

Thats my choice, and if some else does different, well if its within the law who cares!!

And if you get a massive fish kill (like this year) a particular system will have the smaller fish being killed by the natural occurrence, and 1m+ fish being killed by fishos. Potentially removing both ends of the life cycle. I am like Seano (and I believe most fishos would be similar) I have a self imposed limit that is far stricter than the law

No thanks! Mexican

Fish Tank wrote:No thanks! Mexican

I just fill the freezer till she's brimming and then look for potential customers to off load all the meteries to
Shaggs sits and waits for a knock on the door from the fish police LOL

seano wrote:I have a self imposed limit of 2 fish 55-80. I couldn't bring my self to necking 1 mtr+ fish plus they aren't as good to eat as the smaller ones. Interesting theory though

+1 prob stretch it to 85-90 (did have a trip that caught 3 80s in a day and put the first two back and had to settle with 88 for a feed)

Been fishing with seano down the Daly and caught 15 odd and only took one 65 for the whole 3 days.




Mate,s down south always laugh,I caught a meter barra and had chicken for tea.

Ben Jam wrote:I have a self imposed limit like seano, and I perfer to keep the by-catch, like jacks, threadies and goldies. Bigger fish are pain in the ass to fillet anyway. I dont make a habit of trying to feed the world either, but I do throw a feed over to my parents and my sister every now and then.

Thats my choice, and if some else does different, well if its within the law who cares!!

I'm with you on this one kingy, I'd much rather eat the bycatch, if you can call it that. Golden snapper versus barra is an easy decision to make.

In my opinion barra is pretty average table fare.

Geez camfish will have to watch himself with all of those metre plus fish he would have stacked in his freezer

If they being down the max size I think they should lower the min size to 50cm everyone knows 50 to 55cm are the best eating anyways then there's less pressure on the big girls

DOUG wrote:If they being down the max size I think they should lower the min size to 50cm everyone knows 50 to 55cm are the best eating anyways then there's less pressure on the big girls

Wouldn't know what barra under 55cm tastes like Doug- good ?

seano wrote:

DOUG wrote:If they being down the max size I think they should lower the min size to 50cm everyone knows 50 to 55cm are the best eating anyways then there's less pressure on the big girls

Wouldn't know what barra under 55cm tastes like Doug- good ?

Ya haven't lived if ya haven't eaten an undersize barra

I've always thought this drifter. Taking smaller barra doesn't mean your not taking a breeder......it's just that they may not spawn till next year. I'm with Doug....under 55 ideal pan size

nomad wrote:Geez camfish will have to watch himself with all of those metre plus fish he would have stacked in his freezer

you have know idea