hi blue, there are not any major problems with the regulations as far as i know. there is still the regulation in there about a hand spear having no more than 2 prongs which is a bit of a joke given that you can still apparently use a Hawaiian sling with multiple prongs (which is technically a spear gun). I think they should just remove the 2 prong restriction since it seems unnecessary.
otherwise, i don't think the new regs are much different to the old ones. i don't have any particular concerns about them.
we already went through the marine parks phase several years ago where we lost quite a few fishing areas. sounds like this is now happening up in your area.
I think the number of fish that escape and then die after get speared by a barbed cluster spear are very low. I don't think it has ever happened to me. Either I miss the fish completely because they run away or I get them. Therefore yes I think the 2 prong idea is not necessary.
Also, you can't even buy a 2 prong spear in Victoria even if you wanted to! No fishing shop that I am aware of actually sells them. They only sell Hawaiian slings with multi pronged (and barbed) spear heads.
At least you dont need a license yet (except in impoundments). They could start charging you, and still shut down the zones like they have in vic. In the end, the greenies are always going to win. I'm still dont understand how someone can need six rods on the river either.
anyway, most interesting in VIC is like Glen mentioned. Its amazing that a hawaiian sling counts as a spear gun, even if you don't use it as such. I think sometimes barbless would be good though, it can be bloody hard to get those flounder off sometimes.
Probably about time they closed down the freshwater crays in the rivers they did too, i've never seen more than wee little babies. wont be long before they close down the murray crays too I expect. I've fished em and eaten em in the past, but can bring myself to take a 20 year old cray for the tiny mouthful of meat that you get anymore. Maybe i'm just getting old.
yep i filed the barbs back a little so they don't hold too well otherwise the fish never gets off the spear!! <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />