Fishing marinas and the law

[brw0513]

I was casting SPs around Scarborough Marina yesterday (Redcliffe, Queensland) and had a bloke, presumably a boat owner but at the time walking on one of those floating walkways, tell me that all fishing in the marina was banned.

I was leaving anyway and thanked him for the heads up.

I didn't see any "no fishing" signs. I launched my boat from a public boat ramp from within the marina.

Anyway, I thought I'd ring the Marina Office to enquire. They advised the only restrictions regarding fishing in the marina was "no fishing from floating walkways or common areas". I rang the Dapartment of Primary Industries and Fisheries. A very friendly chap advised there were no restrictions when fishing from my boat and it was my right to go fishing in that area as long as common sense prevailed. I had declared I was casting between moored boats and into unoccupied marina berths.

The next time I get confronted by anybody who thinks they can tell me to shove off, I'm going to reply "I have made my enquiries with your Marina and the DPI and have been assured I can fish this waters. Please go ahead and make your own enquiries. You have my rego number if any authority needs to contact me".

Anyone else had a similar experience?

[Dell]

Mate good on ya i hate people that try and kick us out of great fishing areas. if they don't want us there then they should have signs that clearly say " NO FISHING"!.

Don't know bout Queensland laws, but out here in the Wild West, I know a guy got busted bye marine safety (DPI / Transport call em what you will!), for having his boat in a public waterway and not registered.

It was in his pen at the time!

Yep, while waiting for them to make up their minds, about whether they would pass it into commercial survey the normal recreational license ran out - and they hadn't quite decided on the survey issue - so he waited while they made up their mind - and they pinged him $200 in the pen he pays rent on!


So, one assumes - if you rent a pen - it apparently still legally a 'public waterway' which therefore is OPEN to fishing!

Therefore bounce ya squidgy jigs off shiney gin palace glass yacht hulls with gay abandon is my take on it - stuff all anyone can do (unless they have a gun!)

Hey - if anyone queries - just tell em to charge you with fishing in a public waterway! Or of you get a fine from some buerocrat - send it to DPI to pay - they seem pretty keen on handing em out so why not see if they are equally as keen to pay a few!

Cheers!