15-07-2005, 06:17 PM
(This post was last modified: 15-07-2005, 06:29 PM by Ian Williams.)
Thanks Jazman. Picked up last thing before heading off to Queenscliffand included in with reports.
Generally the overall combined summary was that this season was a bit ordinary with weather against us (and commercials) in January and February. Experienced divers could still get a cray or two with success more likely from those in very shallow water away from the commercial pots. There were plenty of cray for commercial going out to deeper waters for white crays while the fishermen targeting inshore reefs (for reds) struggled about from competition between themselves. This of course encroaches on the recreational divers or snorklers ability to catch crays. It's further compounded as some of their's and our fishing area was swallowed up by Marine Parks. By the way we trying to get nooses and blunt hooks legalised for those deep ledges but Fisheries have tied it to being able to have a good estimate of the recreational catch. As also mentioned earlier, this is again despite our Western Zone quota allocation being more than double the previous official estimate and also based on a bag limit of 4. This is where being out numbered at meetings doesn't help.
Generally the overall combined summary was that this season was a bit ordinary with weather against us (and commercials) in January and February. Experienced divers could still get a cray or two with success more likely from those in very shallow water away from the commercial pots. There were plenty of cray for commercial going out to deeper waters for white crays while the fishermen targeting inshore reefs (for reds) struggled about from competition between themselves. This of course encroaches on the recreational divers or snorklers ability to catch crays. It's further compounded as some of their's and our fishing area was swallowed up by Marine Parks. By the way we trying to get nooses and blunt hooks legalised for those deep ledges but Fisheries have tied it to being able to have a good estimate of the recreational catch. As also mentioned earlier, this is again despite our Western Zone quota allocation being more than double the previous official estimate and also based on a bag limit of 4. This is where being out numbered at meetings doesn't help.