Mallacoota

blackwater · #1 28-02-2003, 03:26 AM

Just listening to Rex Hunt on the radio tonight and talking about the pro's down at Mallacoota. Apparently the pro's are giving the bream a flogging in a rec only area and aint gonna stop until they are made to. Rexy was saying that a lot of the fish have moved into the lower lake because of the low water levels and the pro's are just scooping em up. It's great to see what we get in return for our all waters fishing license. These rec only fishing areas were supposed to be put in place for us after loosing area's to marine parks. So much for that. So who's going to fish the next Vic round of the bream comp. Good luck, sounds like you'll need it.

Brian

jimi · #2 28-02-2003, 03:35 AM

Surely they can be arrested for fishing in a Rec only zone? Wouldn't that be like lighting fires in a national park? What are the rules with your rec-only areas? Sorry I'm from WA, we're not that advanced yet.

James.

blackwater · #3 28-02-2003, 03:40 AM

If you can find a fisheries officer to do something about it i would be amazed. No-one can do anything if the people with the powers don't.

Bear · #4 28-02-2003, 06:27 AM

Brian,
Don't suppose Rex said he had any pics did he. Surely we have enough guys here to do something about it.

Proof would go a long way though.

blackwater · #5 28-02-2003, 06:44 AM

Bear,
Rex just said that somebody he knew had called and told him what was going on and that the pro's had been sitting there all week. And when this bloke spoke to one of them they said they weren't leaving until someone made them. So i don't think they are too worried about the laws. If i was them i probably wouldn't be either. By the time the fisheries show up they will probably have retired. So as usual in victoria the recs get bent over and the pros can keep doing whatever they want. Even if they have got proof i doubt that anyone will do anything about it. That just seems to be the way it is working here.

Brian

Bear · #6 28-02-2003, 07:05 AM

Brian,
We have just been through something similar with the Gov here and licenses. If enough people make a noise, then something can happen.

The whole point is to get people involved. This site and the people involved should have a better idea than most as to the damage that can be done by the pros. It's up to people like us to make others aware of what is happening. It would be nice if we could get guys like Rex and SteveC, as Ira does, and come on these forums to let us know what is happening.

Surely there are enough concerned fishos here to start to make a difference.

Might be time to drop Rexy and e-mail and see what we can stir up. We should be supporting guys like Ira and Rex, it's only going to benefit us as well.

blackwater · #7 01-03-2003, 01:48 AM

Bear,
Rex is trying to get people fired up but he want's to know what to do. The biggest problem is people that just want to go fishing and not have to worry about what is going on around them. Rex asked people to ring in and give him some ideas on how to get people off there bums and actually do something to help themselves before it's too late. Until everyone gets together down here nothing is going to change. Rex is talking about setting up a group like the sporting shooters and others have to look after fisho's but getting everyone to hand over a few bucks to keep it running is the biggest problem. Prsonally i think the biggest problem is that we have had so many groups in vic which have been seen to do nothing for fisho's that no-one is interested in another group that is going to do nothing as well. The latest example is VR Fish. I know that i would be happy to hand over 20 bucks if i knew it was actually going to be used to help fisho's get a fair go.

Brian

SWANK-E · #8 01-03-2003, 06:38 AM

we are trying to start a petition on tighter enforcements of fisheries rules and to address all the current problems (such as inefficient staff allocations etc) in the Fishvictoria.com website.

all victorian fishos who cares should join in to form a unified and definitive voice

rodmy · #9 04-03-2003, 05:48 AM

have you written to the Minister and your local MP? You should do it now.

also the plan is to buy out the commercial licenses very soon

rodmy · #10 05-03-2003, 06:50 AM

Pettions are not very effective in lobbying to get changes made. What work are individual letters addressed to the appropiate people. They dont have to be academic masterpieces, just make your point.

10 letters are worth more than a petition of 1000 names.

Believe me I have experience in lobbying a lot of it has been successful.

It has been said that local govs, MPs when getting 3 letters regarding an issue, say 'there are some concerns" 10 letters "considerable opposition" 20 letters there is "overwelming opposition or the community is outraged etc.

lots of MPs and ministers have e mail addresses these days

Bear · #11 12-03-2003, 09:19 PM

Ladies and gents,
I tried to get in touch with Rex on this subject and Lee Rayner was good enough to return my e-mail. See below:

through speaking to bushy and several other anglers fishing up that way
I found out that they pro's were still netting the lake and with high
salinity levels
"no rain" the bream were all down around the mouth where the pro's are
netting the crap
out of them.
I'm no rocket scientist but I know its causing irreparable damage to the
fishery
how do we stop them.
I also heard form one angler who spoke to a pro up that way who said " if
there kicking
us out we are going to take everthing we can before we go"

Regards Lee Rayner

Time we all had a hard look at ourselves and deceided what we believe in and do we want to see these attitides to continue.

Stay tuned for further developments.

Ol' slab sides · #12 13-03-2003, 02:59 AM

I also heard form one angler who spoke to a pro up that way who said " if
there kicking
us out we are going to take everthing we can before we go"

Regards Lee Rayner

Time we all had a hard look at ourselves and deceided what we believe in and do we want to see these attitides to continue.

Sounds like the same attitude the pros took with kingfish traps (we'll dump them at sea). At Lake Macq. they bought them out so within a few years we should reap the rewards of paying for a license, already things are looking promising. It will all be for nothing if they let the pros back in after 5 years (as proposed). Up north it is illegal to keep barramundi in breeding season, when are the clowns that run things down here going to realise that amature fisherman generate more revenue as a whole than the smelly prawn, kill a heap of fish crew...