Fishing sustainably...

[MangroveMick]

I'm sure alot of you guys on here will agree ->
http://micksgonefishing.com/2012/03/...or-the-future/

I'd like to see what peoples opinions are on this matter...

It would be good to possibly come up with a way we can educate other anglers about how to fish sustainably...

yeh thats a good start to sustainability, it all starts with a good mind set and culling the 'catch, kill and grill' ethos that is associated with fishing...

[Breamobsession]

100% agreed. I hardly ever take a feed of fish anymore and if i do i will eat it the same day. If i know i'm not going to be able to eat it that day i don't bother. The only fish i keep are flattie and only up to 60cm max although it would be rare for me to take one that big. Usually 40-55cm is perfect eating in my opinion.

I also believe there should be maximum size limits. There is nothing that annoys me more than constantly seeing people in photo's and when i'm out fishing holding up massive 80-100cm flattie or big brute Bream just so they can show of to the world, probably half the time it ends up in the freezer and does not even get eaten (although i am guilty of this in the past when i have had big Bream die) but certainly don't go out of my way to kill anything for a picture in the local paper.

It still amazes me how many people are completely unaware of how slowly Bream grow, or that the Big Flattie are often the breeders ect. Everytime i go fishing without fail someone says "why the hell did you throw that back" or i get very dissaproving looks. This is when i usually try and explain why but find a lot of people still don't seem to care and can't undertand why you would want to catch a fish and throw it back. For most it is still a past time and not a sport like it is for us. Often they go fishing for a feed and simply to show of their catch, sit on their arse and drink beer and whatever else floats their boat, not for the thrill of catching fish on lures and even better the thrill of watching them swim away.

Originally Posted by Breamobsession

100% agreed. I hardly ever take a feed of fish anymore and if i do i will eat it the same day. If i know i'm not going to be able to eat it that day i don't bother. The only fish i keep are flattie and only up to 60cm max although it would be rare for me to take one that big. Usually 40-55cm is perfect eating in my opinion.

Sounds totally opposite of the fella I work with, he takes anything he catches and it really gets right up my nose...

I think it should be mandatory to carry a camera instead of a bucket or a keeper net.

[yellow door 1]

As you know - You're preaching to the choir on this site - the only time hard core meat fishermen come here is to browse the local reports for locations.

They dont log in and thank people for the spots - they just use the info to fill their buckets and you'd never know they were here.

Fisheries officers are spread too thin to make any impact on people taking undersized fish - especially while there are abalone and crayfish poachers around. (Why do they care more about crabs and limpits - Because they're told to)

When the fisheries officers arrive at certain land based locations in melbourne - it starts a chain reaction of bream, mullet, tailor and pinks being tossed back - old school poachers know that cases are less likely to be taken to court if their is no evidence and 100 potential suspects.

We've conducted our own tests out in the bay at night - all you need is a spot-light and to travel at full noise - (even at a respectful distance) - boat load after boatload of poachers fling pinkies out of their boats like their confetti. (then curse you out when they realize you arent with "Fisheries")

(You tell them "there are so many boats out here with their lights off, that its the only safe way to navigate - and then you realize the boats chucking dead pinks back are the same one causing the navigation hazards)

Theres only one way to take on poachers - and thats the Chicago Way







Appealing to a poachers sense of morality is a waste of time - all they fear is getting caught.

[millonario]

one of the last times I went to the south coast, some tourists (not like me) were baiting for bream at the pier, they pulled in some little ones and instead of abusing them, I paddled past and in as friendly a manner as I could muster I let them there were size limits for fish and they let them go and thanked me for the info. And for the bigots lurking, no they weren't Asian they were good ol' country boys! I know how you love to drop that in

[Breamobsession]

Originally Posted by millonario

one of the last times I went to the south coast, some tourists (not like me) were baiting for bream at the pier, they pulled in some little ones and instead of abusing them, I paddled past and in as friendly a manner as I could muster I let them there were size limits for fish and they let them go and thanked me for the info. And for the bigots lurking, no they weren't Asian they were good ol' country boys! I know how you love to drop that in

Surly not county boys never OMG!!!!. I only ever see Bogans doing that

Good way of handling it mate, works well 9 out of 10 times.

[MangroveMick]

Unfortunately yes it happens all the time. I work with an older bloke who likes to fill his freezer up. Yesterday we had a debate in the lunch room about it. It was like banging my head against a wall... Somehow I think I may have got through to him though, today he said he had thought about it and agreed with a few things I had said. He doesn't agree that it tastes better fresh however and would rather freeze it all first...

[millonario]

Originally Posted by Breamobsession

Surly not county boys never OMG!!!!. I only ever see Bogans doing that

Good way of handling it mate, works well 9 out of 10 times.

I wish there was more smilies, I needed one for lol! good point Mr.B, Bogans was the word I was looking for. That and scumbags...

[millonario]

Originally Posted by MangroveMick

Unfortunately yes it happens all the time. I work with an older bloke who likes to fill his freezer up. Yesterday we had a debate in the lunch room about it. It was like banging my head against a wall... Somehow I think I may have got through to him though, today he said he had thought about it and agreed with a few things I had said. He doesn't agree that it tastes better fresh however and would rather freeze it all first...

Good on you for persevering with the guy Mick. Reach one, teach one.

[MangroveMick]

Im thinking of getting some kind of poster and flyers made up to put up in the window of tackle stores to help educate people about this topic... Just need some ideas on how to reach out to people to make them stop and think before killing what they catch...

[Breamobsession]

Originally Posted by MangroveMick

Im thinking of getting some kind of poster and flyers made up to put up in the window of tackle stores to help educate people about this topic... Just need some ideas on how to reach out to people to make them stop and think before killing what they catch...

That's a good plan mate.

[Alexc123]

Unfortunately unless our goverment starts to take this issue more seriously and increases the amount of fisheries officers,aswell as more severe penalties for illegal wrongdoing,plus general education of people it will continue to happen,if you take a look here you will see the penalties that actually get handed out are a bit of a joke,but definitely education is the key.
http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/fisheries/...g-a-difference