TAS Recreational Fishing Guide 2012-13

Depar tment of Pr imar y Industr ies, Par ks, Water and Environment

1 November 2012 - 31 October 2013

Recreational Sea Fishing Guide

2012-13

Wild Fisher ies Management BranchDepar tment of Pr imar y Industr ies, Par ks, Water and Environment

Welcome to the 2012-13 edition of the Recreational Sea Fishing Guide.Few outdoor experiences can compare with fishing Tasmania’s coastline, rivers and estuaries.

It is a favourite activity that Tasmanians and visitors to the state enjoy all year round.

As a recreational fisher, I appreciate the need to educate the public about sustainable fishing practices and how to value our catch more. As well as conducting fisheries awareness activities through the Fishcare program, the Department’s priorities also include commissioning new research to improve our understanding of recreational fish stocks.

It’s good to hear feedback from last season that fishers have adjusted well to the new rock lobster rules. The Department is continuing to work on ways to address the low rock lobster stock levels on the East Coast which is an important recreational fishing area.

General Fishing SurveyThis scientifically designed survey is conducted every 4-5 years by the University of Tasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies to estimate catch and participation in Tasmanian recreational fisheries. The next survey starts in November 2012, so if you are contacted by an interviewer, please help by providing your fishing details. This information helps to manage our fisheries sustainably and to direct education resources to where they are most needed. See page 6.

Report Illegal FishingThe detrimental effects of unlawful fishing can have wide ranging impacts on our community. It depletes valuable fish stocks, causes damage to fish ecosystems, and undermines the enjoyment of recreational fishers and the livelihood of commercial fishers.

It’s disturbing to hear reports of illegal fishing activity ranging from plain ignorance of fishing rules to organised criminal plundering of high value fish resources. Help the Marine Police crack down on illegal fishing by reporting illegal activities to Fishwatch on 0427 655 557. See page 13 for more information.

Your Licence Fees at WorkAs always your fishing licence fees continue to fund a wide range of valuable research and community based recreational fisheries projects. These include developing a monitoring regime for sand flathead, investigating post-release survival rates in southern blue fin tuna and scallop recruitment in the D’Entrecasteaux Channel. Funding is also made available for community projects; recent recipients include the Bridport Primary School’s Discovery Centre and the Bucaan Community House to conduct migrant fishing clinics.

So remember, whether you are fishing from a jetty, in bays and estuaries or out on the open coastline, fish responsibly and safely and please check up on the rules before you go to ensure you stay within your limits.

Bryan Green MP

Minister for Primary Industries and Water


2

Fishcare Tasmania conducts a fishing clinic for the migrant community

MINISTER’S MESSAGE

INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 WHY WE NEED SEA FISHING RULES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

WHAT’S NEW FOR 2012-13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

FISHERY SURVEYS AND RESEARCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

FISHING AND THE COMMUNITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

LICENCES, SEASONS AND AREA RESTRICTIONS . . 14 LICENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

SEASONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

AREA RESTRICTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

SCALEFISH AND SHARK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 BAIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

SCALEFISH - SIZE AND POSSESSION LIMITS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

SHARK - SIZE AND POSSESSION LIMITS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

SCALEFISH FISHING GEAR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

ABALONE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 SIZE, BAG AND POSSESSION LIMITS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

MEASURING AND HANDLING ABALONE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

ROCK LOBSTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 SIZE, BAG AND POSSESSION LIMITS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

ROCK LOBSTER FISHING GEAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

OTHER FISHERIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 SCALLOPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

SQUID, CALAMARI AND OCTOPUS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

CRABS, PRAWNS AND SEAWEED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

SHELLFISH AND SHELL COLLECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

MARINE PESTS AND DISEASES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

PROTECTED AND THREATENED SPECIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 INDEX. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

CONTACTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

BAG, POSSESSION AND SIZE LIMITS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72


3

CONTENTS

Tasmania’s recreational sea fisheries are managed under the Living Marine Resources Management Act 1995. Our fishing rules are designed to provide sustainable use of the fish in Tasmania’s seas and share the resource amongst all fishers.

Fishing is one of the most popular recreational activities in Tasmania. This high level of participation and improved fishing technology creates significant cumulative pressure on fish stocks so it’s important we all abide by the rules.

Why Do We Have Size Limits?Minimum size limits are generally set so enough fish reach breeding size and can reproduce at least once before being caught and kept by fishers.

Return all undersized fish to the water. It is an offence to possess undersize fish even if they are dead.

What are Bag and Possession Limits?Bag and possession limits share fisheries resources among fishers and minimise excess catch.

Most bag and possession limits are personal limits, although boat limits apply for some species. Possession limits apply everywhere, including the home.

Daily Bag Limit – the maximum number of a particular type of fish you as an individual fisher can take in any one day.

Possession Limit – the maximum number or weight of a particular type of fish you can possess in a specified area in Tasmania. If no area is specified, it applies anywhere in Tasmania including in your home.

On Water Possession Limit – the maximum number of a particular type of fish you can possess whilst on the water.

Boat Limit – the maximum number of a particular type of fish that can be possessed in one boat (only applies to rock lobster and shark). Note: daily bag and possession limits apply.

Scan this QR Code to go to: www.fishing.tas.gov.au


4

WHY WE NEED SEA FISHING RULES

Northern Bass Strait Rock Lobster Bag LimitThe biosecurity order previously preventing rock lobster fishing in northern Bass Strait has been removed. The new rock lobster bag and possession limit for all waters in Bass Strait north of the line of latitude 39°33’ now applies. This bag limit was introduced during the last review to assist with policing by aligning with Victorian catch limits in this area but the biosecurity order prevented rock lobster fishing. See the map on page 60.

D’Entrecasteaux Scallop Season ClosureA closure for scallop fishing remains in place for the D’Entrecasteaux Channel for the 2013 season to protect scallop stocks and reduce the likelihood of long term closures. All other State waters will be open from 23 March – 31 July. See page 62.

Fish Posters for SchoolsFree to government schools this fishing season is our new large-size Fish Identification and Measuring poster. Featuring actual legal-sized fish, the poster’s theme is size limits and measuring your catch. Teachers should contact Fishcare for information about posters and other marine education resources and activities. See page 11.

Fishes of Tasmania PostersFishes of Tasmania is a series of four large-sized fish posters, featuring well known Tasmanian fish species including popular recreational scalefish as well as sharks, crustaceans and molluscs. “Ten Most Wanted Recreational Scale Fishes of Tasmania”, “Forty Recreational Sea Fishes of Tasmania”, “Sharks, Skates and Rays of Tasmania” and “Crustaceans and Molluscs of Tasmania”. Available now at Service Tasmania shops for $20 per set.


5

WHAT’S NEW FOR 2011-12

In Tasmania, scientifically designed surveys provide estimates of recreational fishing participation and catch by sampling a proportion of the population. The sampled fishers are engaged for a 12 month period, issued a diary to complete and contacted regularly by phone by a trained interviewer.

DPIPWE commissions the surveys using Fishwise funds from the sale of sea fishing licences. The surveys are done by the University of Tasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) which is internationally recognised for conducting recreational fisheries surveys.

Current Surveys include:General Fishing Survey

The General Fishing Survey is conducted every 4-5 years and provides recreational fishing information for all Tasmanian recreational fisheries. It samples a number of Tasmanian households over 12 months to estimate:

• How many people go fishing;

• The profiles of fishers (age, gender, location);

• What they catch and where;

• Fishing methods and areas; and

• Fisher expenditure and attitudes.

The survey is particularly important for characterising the unlicensed recreational fisheries for scalefish such as flathead and Australian salmon.

You can download the results of the last general fishing survey (2007/8) in our ‘What’s the Catch?’ brochure at www.fishing.tas.gov.au

Rock Lobster and Abalone Survey

Surveys of around 1000 rock lobster and abalone licence holders have been conducted every two years since the late 1990s. They provide estimates of days fished by fishing methods (dive, pot, ring) for areas around Tasmania.

The survey methodology has been improved over time by increasing the statewide and regional sample size. The current methodology has been confirmed by an international, independent expert as the most cost effective way of accurately estimating rock lobster catch. See the next page for a summary of rock lobster fishery trends.


6

RECREATIONAL FISHING SURVEYS

This section gives detailed information about the status of fisheries stocks, particularly where changes indicate that they need to be closely monitored.

Fishery Scientific ReportsFishery assessment reports published by IMAS provide comprehensive information including catch, stock status and trends for the abalone, rock lobster, scalefish, and scallop fisheries. You can find links to these and other publications at www .imas .utas .edu .au under the heading Publications.

Rock Lobster Fishery Scientific assessments since 2006 indicate that rock lobster stocks have been declining. The prolonged period of low recruitment of juvenile lobsters through to legal size is exceptional and unlike any downturn previously seen from 1970. In order to address the decline, the total allowable commercial catch (TACC) has been reduced by 28% from 1523 tonnes in 2008 down to 1103 tonnes for the 2012/13 quota year. In 2011, lower catch limits in the Eastern Region were introduced for the recreational fishery.

The stock decline is of most concern on the east coast of Tasmania. This is of particular importance to the recreational

fishery with recent surveys indicating that around 70% of the total recreational catch is taken in the Eastern Region.

As an outcome of the 2011 rock lobster review, the Department is continuing to investigate management options that may be applicable for catch sectors in eastern Tasmanian waters.

Recreational Rock Lobster Fishery TrendsDuring the 2010-11 season, recreational fishers harvested an estimated 83,472 rock lobster equating to 84.3 tonnes. This is a 21% decline from the 2008/9 season estimate of 107 tonnes indicating that the poor stock status is having an effect. The average catch per fisher was 6 per year. Around 3% of fishers who have an individual season catch of more than 30 lobsters account for 18% of the total catch.

The table below illustrates trends in the recreational rock lobster fishery by comparing the 2010/11 season survey to the 2002/3 survey.

2002/3 2010/11

No of rock lobster licence holders 15,580 19,519% licensees who fished 88.4 71.7Harvest (total numbers of rock lobsters) 163,454 83,472Average catch per active fisher in the year 11.4 6.0Average daily pot-harvest 1.00 0.68


7

RECREATIONAL FISHING SURVEYS

Abalone Survey Results

The 2010/11 season survey estimated that 60,943 abalone (29.4 tonnes) were harvested by recreational fishers. The average daily harvest rate was 5 abalone. The recreational catch equates to 1.1% of the combined recreational and commercial catch of 2687 tonnes.

Over half of the recreational catch was taken from the East Coast and around 25% from each of the North and West coasts.

In recent years there have been stock declines in the abalone fishery on the East Coast. The Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) for the eastern zone was decreased by around 20% in 2011 and a watching brief will be maintained.

Gillnetting ResearchOutcomes of the 2009 Scalefish Review included considering recreational gillnet restrictions such as no netting areas, raising awareness about responsible gillnet practices to reduce bycatch, fish wastage and wildlife interactions.

A IMAS research project is currently assessing the impacts of gillnetting in Tasmania and its implications for bycatch and biodiversity. The research aims to:

• Describe commercial and recreational gillnet fishing practices and the effects of management changes, including the ban on night netting and new limited soak times;

• Determine which fish types are caught and levels of bycatch;

• Assess the survival potential of bycatch species; and

• Evaluate any risk to the biodiversity of inshore ecosystems around Tasmania.

The research outcomes will be considered leading up to the 2013-14 Scalefish review.

Recreational Set Line Survey - 2011

Set line licences were introduced in 2009 after questions about the appropriateness of this gear and the risks associated with the number of hooks. A snapshot survey in 2011 indicated the number of set line users was around 3700 persons. Around 2745 (73% of licence holders) used their set-lines with around 1900 fishers or 50% using longlines and around 1000 fishers (28%) using droplines. Set-line usage was an occasional activity, with 63% of active set-line fishers fishing for 5 days or less.

The survey confirmed that longlines are mainly used to target gummy shark off the north and east coasts, whereas droplines are primarily used to target blue eye trevalla or striped trumpeter, mostly off the east and south east coasts. Longlines are generally set for longer periods than droplines, and a small proportion are set overnight. The survey did not quantify the catch or fish wastage. The maximum number of hooks allowed (30) tend to be used for longlines with fewer hooks on droplines. The number of hooks and soak times for set lines will be reviewed in the 2013/14 Scalefish review.


LL

LONG LINE

8

FISHERY SNAPSHOTS

Adopt ‘Fish For the Future’ practicesGiven Tasmanian catch limits are relatively generous, fishers are encouraged to Only take what you need for an immediate feed, and consider fishing more conservatively than the legal limits.

Try setting voluntary limits when you and your mates are fishing by returning fish that are greater than the minimum legal size and taking fewer than the possession limits. For flathead, you could try keeping fish greater than 32cm and not fish down to the minimum legal size of 30cm.

By keeping above the minimum legal size you don’t need to take as many fish for a feed. Importantly, you spend less time cleaning fish and more time fishing! Some fishers also prefer to release big fish to protect ‘large breeders’ because bigger fish of some species have more and larger eggs or a longer breeding season.

As the marine climate changes, catching new or previously uncommon fish species appears to be more common. For some of these scalefish species there are no specific catch limits other than the family grouping or the default possession limit of 15.

King George Whiting

In recent years, King George Whiting have increased in number and distribution in Tasmanian waters. No specific catch limits for this species exist so the combined possession limit for fish of the Family Sillaginidae (whiting) of 30 applies and there is no minimum legal size. Catch limits will be addressed in the Scalefish Management Plan review in 2014. Meanwhile, fishers are encouraged to adopt the following voluntary limits:

• a daily bag limit of 5, and;

• a minimum size of 35 cm.

Recreational Fishing Gear Sheets Recreational Fishing Gear Sheets show how different gear types such as nets, set-lines, rock lobster pots and rings work, and how fishers can make their fishing practices more responsible. Download them at www.fishing.tas.gov.au or pick one up from your friendly Fishcare volunteer.


9

FISHERY SNAPSHOTS

Revenue from the sale of sea fishing licences supports the Fishwise fund. This pays for the management of recreational fishing, including licensing and provides funds for programs that support recreational fishing activities including:

• Communication – fisheries awareness and education such as this sea fishing guide, rulers, gauges and advertising.

• Fishcare – promotes community involvement in fishing, better fishing practices and protecting fish resources.

• Resource Management – funds scheduled recreational fishing surveys and other research.

• Fishwise Community Grants – funds projects that improve the management of recreational sea fishing and education on fishing issues.

Fishwise Community GrantsThe Fishwise Community Grants fund has previously funded activities such as:

• school education programs about recreational sea fishing;

• biological, social and economic research of recreational sea fisheries; and

• responsible fishing clinics and fishing days

For a list of projects that have previously received grants visit www.fishing.tas.gov.au/fishwise.

Recreational Fisheries Advisory CommitteeThe Recreational Fisheries Advisory Committee (RecFAC) provides advice to the Minister on recreational fisheries matters including fishery reviews and Fishwise Grant applications. Most members are recreational fishers as well as a member each from DPIPWE, IMAS, TARFISH, the Tasmanian Conservation Trust and the Marine Police. Membership is renewed every 2-3 years.


10

FISHWISE – licence fees are used to benefit our fisheries

Fishcare Tasmania is a program that educates the community about sustainable recreational fishing practices. Fishcare is funded by Fishwise – your licence fees at work.

Fishcare encourages recreational fishers to fish in a responsible manner. Releasing undersize fish, handling fish with care and only taking what you need for a feed are examples of how to care for our fisheries.

Fishcare volunteers attend community events such as responsible fishing clinics, boat shows and AgFest. They deliver presentations to schools and attend many regional events, recently focusing the West Coast, far North East Coast and the Tasman Peninsula. At the same time, they maintain Fish Measuring and ID signs that have been installed around the state.

Learning to catch and measure a fish

Fishcare Schools ProgramChildren are our future fishers and at the heart of many Fishcare activities. Fishcare has developed activities that encourage children to think responsibly about recreational fishing and their interaction with the marine environment.

Fishcare operates a schools program and fishing clinics for children of all ages which aims to increase responsible fishing behaviours. Our volunteers are schools-trained and have access to resources such as fishing gear for students to use.

Fishcare volunteers are available for in-school presentations

Become a Fishcare VolunteerAs a recreational fisher, you may be interested in becoming a Fishcare Volunteer. If you like talking to adults and children about fishing and are keen to keep our fisheries sustainable, please contact your Regional Fishcare Coordinator.

Contactswww.fishing.tas.gov.au/fishcareemail: [email protected] Southern Tasmania Ph: (03) 6233 6208 Northern Tasmania Ph: (03) 6336 5474 Northwest Tasmania Ph: (03) 6443 8624


11

FISHCARE TASMANIA

The Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) collaborates with the Tasmanian Government to deliver research fisheries including biology of important fish species, estimating recreational catch and social and economic assessments.

What if I catch a tagged fish? As IMAS currently has a number of tagging programs underway, you may catch a tagged fish such as rock lobster, mako shark, flathead, southern blue fin tuna, trumpeter and banded morwong. For either t-bar and acoustic tags, please record the species, area of capture, fish length, tag number and date of capture then call IMAS on (03) 6227 7280 or email [email protected]

All t-bar tag information returns will go into a draw to win a prize. Every acoustic tag returned automatically receives a reward.

www.redmap.org.auREDMAP invites the Tasmanian community to spot, log and map marine species that are uncommon along particular parts of the Tasmanian coast.

Your sightings are mapped on the site, demonstrating in time how species distributions may be changing.

To register your sighting please visit the Redmap website at www .redmap .org .au or contact the Redmap Communications Officer on (03) 6227 7277.

S P O T . L O G . M A P.


Acoustic tag T-bar tag

12

INSTITUTE FOR MARINE AND ANTARCTIC STUDIES

How to Report Illegal FishingFishwatch is a 24-hour hotline run by Tasmania Marine Police for information on illegal fishing activities. Help them combat illegal fishing by reporting:

• The time and location of the offence;

• Fishing gear used including licence or ID numbers;

• Car registration numbers and boat names, descriptions or distinguishing marks; and

• The name or description of person/s involved.

Information can be given anonymously.

Save this number in your mobile phone today!

Buying or Selling Recreational Fish is IllegalYou are not allowed to sell, buy, barter or raffle recreationally caught fish. Both the seller and purchaser are liable for prosecution and heavy fines may apply. Offenders may face confiscation of boats and fishing gear and may be prevented from holding a fishing licence in the future. If you give fish away, make sure the receiver understands the possession limits for that species.

Not only Fish get Caught!Most fishers do the right thing and stick within the rules. A small number don’t. If you’re fishing outside the law, you may get more than you bargained for.

Here is a recent example of what illegal fishing might cost you:

Prosecution 1: Offences: Taking undersize abalone and

failing to carry a measuring device.

Penalty: Fined $3,610. Diving gear forfeited to the Crown.

Prosecution 2: Offences: Using more than one rock

lobster pot in State waters.

Penalty: Fined $780. Rock lobster pots forfeited to the Crown.

Prosecution 3: Offences: Being unlicensed and taking

undersize abalone.

Penalty: Fined $3160. All equipment used to take the abalone forfeited to the Crown.


13

FISHERIES ENFORCEMENT

2012-13 recreational sea fishing licences are available from all Service Tasmania shops and on the internet at www.fishing.tas.gov.au/licence .

A sea fishing licence is required for the following types of recreational fishing:

• abalone;

• rock lobster dive;

• rock lobster pot;

• rock lobster ring;

• scallop;

• graball net;

• mullet net;

• beach seine net;

• set line (includes longline and dropline).

The recreational licensing year begins on 1 November each year. Licences are valid from the date of issue to 31 October.

You do not need a licence for rod and line fishing in saltwater or marine waters but an Inland Fisheries Licence is required for any fishing in inland waters, which includes some river mouths and estuaries. See page 18 for more information.

See specific fishery pages for more information .

Licence FeesYou can buy all the types of recreational sea fishing licences together or only select the types you need. If you want to add another licence at a later date, you will be charged a $7.20 administration fee for issuing a new fishing certificate card in addition to the cost of the new licence type.

In this licensing year (from 1 November 2012 to 31 October 2013) the following costs apply:

Standard Licence: The first licence type will cost $50.40 (application fee of $43.20 plus $7.20 for first licence). Each additional licence type will cost $7.20. Concession Licence: Commonwealth Pension card holders, Government-issued Seniors Card holders and persons under 16 years. Health Care Card holders are not eligible for concessions. The first licence type will cost $28.80 (application fee of $21.60 plus $7.20 for first licence). Each additional licence type costs $7.20.

Special Rock Lobster Licence: (Western Region only): A recreational fisher who holds any rock lobster licence (either dive, ring or pot) may apply for one 14 day special rock lobster licence per season where their possession limit is 15 rock lobster. The daily bag limit still applies. Cost $43.20 (14 days) in addition to the rock lobster licence fee.

Scan the QR Code to buy your licence online.


14

LICENCES

Licence NumbersWhen you apply for a sea fishing licence for the first time you will be issued with a unique licence number (made up of two letters and four numbers) that you will be able to continue to use in future years. You must display this number if you use gear that requires marked buoys (rock lobster pot, rock lobster cauf, graball or mullet net and setline). See pages 48 and 60.

Gillnet buoy

Fishing Certificate Cards

When you buy a licence, you will receive your licence number. A plastic fishing certificate card listing your licence types will then be mailed to the address provided within 21 days. In the interim, the licence can be used, but you must carry your licence number. If you do not receive your fishing certificate card, please contact Recreational Fisheries on (03) 6233 7042.

Lost Cards If you lose your fishing certificate card, you can order a replacement at Service Tasmania or online at a cost of $7 .20 . Please keep your contact details up to date. They are used for returning lost gear and contacting you about fishery matters such as surveys.

Aboriginal ActivitiesAborigines engaged in aboriginal fishing activities are exempt from holding a fishing licence but must comply with all other fisheries rules as if they were licensed. If using pots, set lines, gillnets or unattended rings, Aborigines must obtain a unique identifying code and display it on their gear. The process for obtaining this code is currently under review. Further details about aboriginal fishing activities and gear marking are available at www.fishing.tas.gov.au.

Fishwise – licence fees are used to benefit our fisheriesThe Fishwise fund covers the management and administration of licences as well as funding programs that support recreational fishing activities. The Fishwise fund is supported by the sale of recreational sea fishing licences.


15

Fisheries may be closed at spawning times for some species to protect breeding stock. Closed seasons may also be used to limit the total catch for a fishery.

If not listed, no recreational season applies. Any changes to published fishing seasons will be posted at www.fishing.tas.gov.au

Species Season

Banded morwong Closed to fishing from 1 March 2013 to 30 April 2013 inclusive.

Striped trumpeter Closed to fishing from 1 September 2013 to 31 October 2013 inclusive.

Rock lobster and giant crab (Female)

Open to fishing from 3 November 2012 to 30 April 2013 inclusive.

Rock lobster and giant crab (Male)

Open to fishing from 3 November 2012 to 31 August 2013 inclusive.

Scallops Open to fishing from 23 March to 31 July 2013 inclusive. A closure for scallop fishing remains in place for the D’Entrecasteaux Channel for the 2013 season.

Squid / Calamari Seasonal closures apply for squid, including southern calamari, in some defined east coast waters including Great Oyster Bay and Mercury Passage from 15 October 2012 to 14 November 2012 inclusive and from 15 October 2013 to 14 November 2013 inclusive.


16

SEASONS

Recreational fishing is permitted in most Tasmanian waters, but there are some restrictions. Different rules apply to marine and freshwater fisheries, including rivers and estuaries. Restrictions may apply in sheltered inland waters, sensitive habitats, marine farming lease areas and research areas.

The following area restrictions apply:

• Rivermouthsandestuaries: An Inland Fisheries licence is required for fishing in inland waters. Special arrangements for marine species may apply. See page 18.

• MarineNatureReserves: Generally no fishing of any type for any species however some reserves have areas where some recreational fishing is permitted. See page 21.

• ResearchAreas: Restrictions on anchoring, dive fishing and limits on some other types of fishing apply. See page 21.

• Marinefarmingleaseareas: No fishing of any type for any species unless you have the prior permission of the leaseholder. See page 26.

• Netandlinearearestrictions: Several rivers and sheltered waters. See page 27.

• SharkRefugeAreas: No take of shark (excluding elephant fish), rays or stingrays and no set lines. See page 38. Mullet nets are banned in shark refuge areas and other netting restrictions specific to each refuge apply. See page 27.

• Norocklobsterpotareas: No use of rock lobster pots but ring or diving for rock lobster is permitted in these areas. See page 61.

• Nospearingareas: No spears of any type can be used in the Mersey, Leven and Inglis Rivers.


17

AREA RESTRICTIONS

This guide covers the rules relating to marine fisheries. Separate rules apply to inland and freshwater fisheries [for details contact the Inland Fisheries Service on (03) 6261 8050 or visit www .ifs .tas .gov .au]. In the lower reaches of rivers and in estuaries it is important to understand which rules apply.

Generally, the border between freshwater and marine rules is at the place where the waters of the river meet the water of the sea. This is easy to understand for small rivers and creeks, but for larger rivers with extensive tidal areas special arrangements are in place. In these areas:

• the seaward limit is set; or

• special arrangements are in place for marine fish; or

• special arrangements are in place for bream fishing.

Seaward Limit: Where a seaward limit is set, a freshwater angling licence is required to fish on the upstream side.

MarineFishZone: In a marine fish zone, a freshwater angling licence is not needed to take marine species. One rod can be used but trout cannot be retained.

Bream Fishing Area: In a bream fishing area, a freshwater angling licence is not needed to take bream and up to two rods may be used, but trout cannot be retained.

The following is a list of the status of some major rivers and estuaries. If in doubt please contact the Inland Fisheries Service.

Ansons River: bream fishing area downstream from the St Helens-Eddystone Point Road bridge to the mouth of the river.

Arthur River: marine fish zone downstream from the bridge to the mouth of the river.

Bream Creek: bream fishing area from the mouth upstream to a line between 2 posts approximately 1.6km above the mouth.

Buxton River: bream fishing area from the mouth upstream to the posts marking the tidal limit.

Carlton River: seaward limit at the crossing of the Carlton-Dunalley Road.

Coal River: bream fishing area from the mouth upstream to the weir immediately below Richmond.

D’Entrecasteaux River: bream fishing area from the mouth upstream to the road bridge.

Don River: seaward limit at the down stream side of the bridge carrying the railway across that river.

Douglas River: bream fishing area from the mouth upstream to the road bridge.

Esperance River: bream fishing area from a line across the river at Chale Bay upstream to the road bridge.


18

RIVER MOUTHS AND ESTUARIES

Forth River: seaward limit at the downstream side of the bridge carrying the A1 Road across that river.

Four Mile Creek: bream fishing area from the mouth upstream to the Four Mile Creek Road bridge.

Great Forester River: seaward limit at the continuation of the high-water mark on Waterhouse Beach.

Great Musselroe River: bream fishing area from the mouth upstream to the first rapids marked by a post.

Henty River: seaward limit at the mouth of that river at grid reference 356499/5346132.

Huon River: marine fish zone downstream from the bridge at Huonville to a line drawn between a white post situated on the shore of the southern side of Castle Forbes Bay and another white post situated on the eastern bank of the river.

Inglis River: seaward limit at the down stream side of the bridge carrying the C234 road.

Jordan River: bream fishing area from the mouth upstream to the Cove Hill Road bridge.

Leven River: seaward limit at the down stream side of the bridge carrying the A1 road.

Lisdillon River: bream fishing area from the mouth upstream to the road bridge on the Tasman Highway.

Little Swanport River: bream fishing area from the mouth upstream to posts approximately 800 metres above the Tasman Highway bridge.

Lune River: bream fishing area from a line across the river at Echo Island upstream to the first rapids.

Meredith River: bream fishing area from the mouth upstream to the main road bridge.

Mersey River: seaward limit at an imaginary straight line running north-east across that river from the junction of the B19 Road and Tarleton Road on the western shore of that river to the boat ramp on the eastern shore of that river.

Pieman River: seaward limit at an imaginary straight line running south-east across that river from Ferry Point at grid reference 327698/5385918.

Prosser River: bream fishing area downstream from the Prosser River Dam to the seaward limit at the road bridge.


19

River Derwent: marine fish zone zone downstream from the Bridgewater Bridge to a line across the river from Dowsings Point to Store Point.

River Tamar: seaward limit at the parallel of latitude of Haystack Point.

Sandspit River: bream fishing area downstream from the road bridge.

The following lagoons are bream fishingareas:

Big Lagoon, Fortescue Bay Lagoon, Freshwater and Saltwater Lagoons (at Friendly Beaches), Grants Lagoon, Hendersons Lagoon, Old Mines Lagoon, Sloop Rock Lagoon, The Gardens Lagoon and Wrinklers Lagoon.

Scamander River: bream fishing area from the bridge carrying the A3 upstream to the posts near Mason’s windmill. (Map)

Swan River: seaward limit at a line drawn between the white posts situated on opposite banks of the Swan River near where it enters King Bay.

The Arm: St Helens, bream fishing area from the mouth upstream to the road crossing marked by two posts.

Tomahawk River: bream fishing area from the main road bridge downstream for 1km.


20

1. Waterwitch Reef Abalone Research Area (West of King Island)

No taking of any fish by diving.

2.KentGroupMarineNatureReserve

No fishing or setting of fishing gear in the no fishing zone. The only fishing currently allowed in the restricted zone is line fishing (the taking of abalone is prohibited for biosecurity reasons).

3. Inner Sister Island Abalone Research Area (NorthofFlindersIsland)

No taking of any fish by diving within 500 metres of the high water mark in the area shown.

More detailed maps of marine reserves are available at www .parks .tas .gov .au under ‘Marine Reserves’. In some reserves, white marker poles may indicate boundaries.


21

MARINE NATURE RESERVES AND RESEARCH AREAS

4.FlindersCommonwealthMarineReserve(SanctuaryZoneOnly)

No fishing or setting of fishing gear is allowed. More information from the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Water Resources at: www .environment .gov .au/coasts/mpa/southeast

5. Swan Island Abalone Research Area


6. Bay of Fires Abalone Research Area

No taking of abalone.

7. Elephant Rock Rock Lobster Research Area

The research area is on the north east coast of Grants Point, near St Helens. No fishing by diving or use of rock lobster pots or rings. No possession of specially-marked research rock lobster, see page 58.


22


8. Governor Island MarineNatureReserve

No fishing or setting of fishing gear is allowed.

9. Freycinet CommonwealthMarineReserve(SanctuaryZoneOnly)


10.MariaIslandMarineNatureReserve

No fishing or setting of fishing gear is allowed in the reserve between Cape Boullanger in the north and Return Point in the south. Recreational fishing of all types is permitted east of Cape Boullanger.

11.NorthBayRockLobster Research Area

The research area is south of North Bay, east of Dunalley. No fishing by diving or use of rock lobster pots or rings. No possession of specially-marked research rock lobster, see page 58.


23

12. Taroona Waters Reserve and Research Area

The research area extends in a south-easterly arc around Crayfish Point, Taroona, from the end of Seaview Avenue to Taroona Beach. Rod and line fishing is permitted but fishing by swimming, diving, netting, potting and rings and use of set lines is prohibited. Possession of abalone and rock lobster is also prohibited. Fish caught outside the research area can be brought in through the outer zone and landed at the boat ramp.

13.TinderboxMarineNatureReserve

No fishing or setting of fishing gear allowed. Fish caught outside the reserve can be landed at the boat ramp.

14.NinepinPointMarineNatureReserve

No fishing or setting of fishing gear allowed.


24


15. George III Rock Abalone Research Area

No anchoring, swimming or taking of any fish by diving is allowed within 500 metres of the rock.

16. Tasman Fracture CommonwealthMarineReserve(SanctuaryZoneOnly)


17.PortDavey/BathurstHarbourMarineNatureReserve

No fishing or setting of fishing gear is allowed in the no fishing zone. The only fishing allowed in the restricted zone is diving for abalone and rock lobster, using a rock lobster pot or ring and line fishing.


25

18.DoughboysAbaloneResearchArea


Bruny Bioregion

In 2009, 14 new marine protected areas were created in the Bruny Bioregion. These are multiple use MPAs and no new fishing restrictions apply. For more information, go to: www .parks .tas .gov .au

See page 48 for line and net gear specifications.

Marine FarmsRecreational fishing in marine farming lease areas is prohibited without the permission of the leaseholder. Marine farming leases provide the leaseholder with exclusive right of occupation of the waters and seabed.

A few simple rules should be followed:

• be aware of the location of marine farming leases in any area you intend to fish. If you are unsure, check the marine farming lease charts at: www.fishing.tas.gov.au;

• keep well clear of the boundaries of marine farming lease areas which are marked with IALA standard special markers (see photo) as you may be trespassing; and

• be careful if anchoring or fishing near deep water marine farming lease areas. The anchors and mooring lines for marine farming equipment are allowed to extend outside the lease area and you risk fouling your gear or anchor.

For any questions regarding marine farming leases, contact the DPIPWE Marine Farming Branch on (03) 6233 3370.


26


There are a number of areas around Tasmania where restrictions on netting and the use of set lines apply. Generally, the use of nets and set lines is restricted in most rivers and estuaries to protect vulnerable species or sensitive habitats.

The map on this page highlights the main areas where net and line restrictions apply. More detailed maps and a full description of the restrictions can be found on the following pages.

There are also restrictions on fishing in Marine Nature Reserves and Research Areas (see page 21), marine farming lease areas (see page 26) and Shark Refuge Areas (see page 38). Make sure that you check for any restrictions in the area you are fishing.


27

NET AND SET LINE AREA RESTRICTIONS

1 Currie Harbour

The harbour side of a line from the tip of the most westerly breakwater at the south-west end of the harbour to the north-western extremity of the harbour, known as Devils Gap.

2 Sea Elephant River

Upstream of the mouth.

3 The Blowhole

Within 300m of The Blowhole.

4 Grassy Harbour

In the harbour with a boundary formed by a line from the end of the jetty at Jetty Point to Sandblow Point.

5MosquitoInlet

South of a line from the northern tip of Back Banks to Egging Point and west to the shore of Robbins Island.

6RobbinsPassage

The area bounded in the west by a line from Woolnorth Point to the northern tip of Kangaroo Island and then to Bird Point on Robbins Island, and bounded in the east by a line from Cape Elie on Robbins Island to Shipwreck Point on Parsons Island.

7DuckBay

The bay with seaward boundaries defined by a line from Kingston Pt to Eagle Point, and at the northern end of channel known as The Jam.


M

GSet lines prohibitedincludes longlines & droplines

MAPS: No nets

Graball nets prohibited Bait traps prohibited

Mullet nets prohibited Other nets prohibitedincludes beach seine nets,cast nets & bait nets

Spears prohibited

No mullet nets No gill nets (mullet & graball)

28

M G

M G

M G

M G

M G

M G

M G


8 East and West Inlet

South of a line from the north extremity of Black River Beach to the east extremity of Anthony Beach.

9 Black River

Upstream of the mouth and including those waters within 100m to seaward of the mouth.

10 Sawyer Bay

West of a line from the northern tip of Black River Beach to a point 500m off the shore and due south of the western wave wall of Fishermans Dock and within 500m of the shore around The Nut to the eastern end of Godfreys Beach.

11DetentionRiver

Upstream of the mouth between Hellyer Beach and Forwards Beach and including those waters within 100m to seaward of the mouth.

12 Inglis River

Upstream of a line between the seaward ends of the breakwaters on each side of the mouth and within 100m seaward of that line.

13 Cam River

Upstream of the mouth and including those waters within 300m to seaward of the road bridge.

14 Emu River

The river and its tributaries, upstream of the mouth and including those waters within 200m to seaward of the road bridge.

15 Blythe River

Upstream of the mouth and including those waters within 100m of the seaward end of the rocks on the eastern shore at the mouth.

16 Sulphur Creek

Upstream of the railway bridge.

17 Leven River

Upstream of a line between the seaward ends of the breakwaters on each side of the mouth and within 100m seaward of that line.

18 Forth River

Upstream of a line across the river that follows the direction of The Esplanade and 200m to seaward of that line.

19DonRiver

Upstream of a line between Don Heads and the gun club building and 100m to seaward of that line.

20MerseyRiver

The river and its tributaries (including Horsehead Creek), upstream of a line from the seaward end of the breakwater on the western shore to the first beacon on the eastern side of the river mouth and within 100m to seaward of that line.


29

M G

M G

M G

M G

M G

M G

M G

M G

M G

M G

M G

M G

M G

21PortSorell

Is a Shark Refuge Area(see page 38).

21aPortSorell(NorthoftheTongue)

South of a line from Taroona Point to Griffiths Point.

21bPortSorell(SouthoftheTongue)

South of The Tongue.

22, 23, 24 River Tamar


22 River Tamar

Upstream of Point Rapid to Sheeptail Point.

23 River Tamar

Upstream of a line from the northern end of Garden Island to the Georgetown Monument. Bait traps may be used in this area.

24 River Tamar

North of the above zone and bounded in the north by a line from the northern tip of West Head to Low Head.


M


MAPS: No nets



Spears prohibited


30

M G

M G

M G

M G

M


25PipersRiver

Upstream from the mouth.

26 Brid River

South of a line from the eastern end of Barnbougle Beach to the boat ramp at the southern end of Old Pier Beach and the old wharf piles.

27NorthEastRiverandArthursCreek

Upstream of a line from the eastern tip of Holloway Point south to the northern tip of Foochow Beach.

28 Cameron Inlet

Upstream of a line from the north-west tip of Planters Beach and west to the opposite shore.

29 Tomahawk River

Upstream of a line from the eastern tip of the northern arm of the river entrance south to Tomahawk Beach.

30 Boobyalla Inlet

Upstream of a line from Campbells Point east to the opposite shore.

31LittleMusselroeRiver


32MusselroeBay

Upstream of a line from a point on Ryans Arm at longitude 148° 9’ 8” N to the opposite shore.

33 Ansons Bay

Note: bait nets are allowed.


31

M G

M G

M G

M G

M G

M G

M G

M G

M G

34 Georges Bay

West of a line between Grants Point and St Helens Point is a Shark Refuge Area (see page 38). Beach seine nets are not allowed. Bait nets and cast nets are allowed.

35 Scamander River

Upstream from and within 200m of the mouth.

36FourMileCreek


37 Saltwater Inlet

The inlet.

38DoctorsCreek

North of the Douglas River and Bicheno.

39DouglasRiver


40MoultingLagoon

Upstream from the mouth, including the waters of King Bay and Pelican Bay. Note: bait nets are allowed.

41 Freshwater Lagoon


42 Saltwater Lagoon


43,44GreatOysterBay



M


MAPS: No nets



Spears prohibited


32

M G

M G

M G

M G

M G

M G

M G

M G

M G


43GreatOysterBay–northernend

North of a line from Waterloo Point at Swansea to The Fisheries at Coles Bay.

44GreatOysterBay–southernend

North of a line from Seaford Point to Weatherhead Point.

45MeredithRiver


46 Bryans Lagoon


47 Lisdillion River

Upstream of a line from the southern tip of Lisdillon Beach and west to the opposite shore.

48MayfieldRiver


49 Troyheleener Lagoon

Upstream of the Tasman Highway (A3) road bridge.

50 Buxton River

Upstream of a line from the south-eastern tip of Horrels Point to Penquite Point.

51 Little Swanport Estuary and Little Swanport River

Upstream of a northerly line from Limekiln Point to the opposite shore.

52 East Coast Waters

Three nautical miles off the coast between Seaford Point south to Cape Bougainville is a Shark Refuge Area (see page 38).

53OkehamptonLagoon


54ProsserRiver


55,56MercuryPassage(Map)

Is a Shark Refuge Area (see page 38).

55MercuryPassage

The area bounded in the north by a line from Cape Bougainville to Cape Boullanger and in the south by a line from Cape Bernier to Cape Peron.

56MercuryPassage–shorelinewaters

Within 200m of the low water mark.


33

M G

M

M G

M G

M G

M G

M G

M G

M G

M

M G

M G

M G

M

57 Earlham Lagoon

Upstream of the mouth of the lagoon.

58WaterfallBayandPatersonsArch

Within 200m of the low-water-mark of the shore from the main waterfall in Waterfall Bay east to the most southern point of Waterfall Bluff and within 200m of the lookout on the point west of Patersons Arch.

59 Bream Creek


60 Blackman Bay

Upstream from the mouth to Dunalley is a Shark Refuge Area (see page 38).

61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 Frederick Henry BayandNorfolkBay(includingPittwaterand Eaglehawk Bay)


61 Frederick Henry Bay and NorfolkBay

Further than 200m from the low-water-mark of Frederick Henry Bay and Norfolk Bay or seaward of the prescribed lines.

62 Frederick Henry Bay and NorfolkBay–shorelinewaters

The area of Frederick Henry Bay and Norfolk Bay bounded in the south with a line from Cape Contrariety to North West Head.

63 Eaglehawk Bay

Eaglehawk Bay east of a line from Sympathy Point to Heather Point.


M


MAPS: No nets



Spears prohibited


34

M G

M G

M G

M G

M

M G

M G


64 Carlton River

The area of Carlton River upstream of a line from the western most part of Carlton Bluff to the Carlton Beach Surf Lifesaving Club building on the opposite shore.

65PipeClayLagoon

The area of Pipe Clay Lagoon upstream from the mouth.

66PittWaterandCoalRiver

The areas of Pitt Water and Coal River upstream of a line running eastward from Sandy Point to the western extremity of Tiger Head.

67,68RiverDerwent


67RiverDerwent

Upstream of a line from the Crayfish Point boat ramp to Droughty Point.

68RiverDerwent

South of the above no-netting zone to a line from Dennes Point to Cape Direction.

69 Browns River

In the river and inshore west of a line from Bonnet Point at Kingston to Soldiers Rocks at Blackmans Bay.

70 Stinkpot Bay

Upstream of a line from the boat ramp at Dru Point to the western point of Stinkpot Bay.

71,72,73D’EntrecasteauxChannel(includesNorthWestBayandHuonRiver)



35

M G

M G

M G

M G

M

M G

M G

71D’EntrecasteauxChannel

The area bounded in the south by a line from Scott Point to the northern tip of Partridge Island, then from the southern tip of that island to Labillardiere Peninsula and in the north by a line from Dennes Point to Piersons Point.

72 Huon River

The area of the Huon River upstream of a line from the navigation light on Brabazon Point to the western side of the river.

73 Arch Rock

The area of Arch Rock within 100m of the low-water-mark.

74 Esperance River

Upstream of a line between Slacks Point and Hawkers Point.

75 Stringers Cove

Within the cove or 100m seaward.

76 Cloudy Bay Lagoon

Upstream of a line extending from the south-western tip of the spit at the western end of Cloudy Beaches and then west to the opposite shore.

77 Lune River

Upstream of a line of latitude 43°26’50” S across the channel between Hastings Bay and Bream Bay in the north and Major Honnors Bay and Jagers Bay in the south.

78, 79 Southport

West of a line from Martins Point to the eastern end of Deephole Bay.

78 Southport

West of a line from Southport Bluff to Burnett Point.

79 Southport Lagoon

Upstream from the mouth of Southport Lagoon.


M


MAPS: No nets



Spears prohibited


36

M

M G

M

M G

M G

M G

M G

M G

M G

M G


80 Blackswan Lagoon

Upstream of a line from the southern tip of Little Lagoon Beach and west to the other shore.

81 Catamaran River

Upstream of the mouth and including those waters within 200m to seaward of the mouth.

82D’EntrecasteauxRiver

Upstream of a line from the intersection of the Cockle Creek Road and the Leprena Track to the northern end of Coal Pit Bight.

83 Recherche Bay

West of a line from Sullivan Point to the navigation light on Fishers Point.

84NewRiverLagoon


85 Hibbs Lagoon

Upstream from the mouth of the lagoon.

86,87MacquarieHarbour

86MacquarieHarbour

South and east of a line between Gordon Point and Charcoal Burners Bluff.

87MacquarieHarbour

East of a line from Macquarie Heads to the eastern shore of Kelly Channel.

88 Henty River

Upstream from a line 100m seaward of mouth.

89PiemanRiver

Upstream of a line through Pieman Head along longitude 144° 55’ E.

90 Arthur River

Upstream of a line from Gardiner Point, north to the opposite shore.


37

M G

M G

M G

M

M G

M G

M G

M

M G

M G

M G

These areas are important habitats that are critical to the breeding of school sharks, rays and stingrays.

• No shark, skate or ray of any kind (with the exception of elephantfish) may be taken in Shark Refuge Areas.

• The use of set lines (longlines and droplines) is prohibited in Shark Refuge Areas.

• Mullet nets are banned in Shark Refuge Areas and other netting restrictions may apply. See page 27 for netting area restrictions.

• Where permitted, gillnets may only be set for up to 2 hours.

• If you catch a shark or ray in a Shark Refuge Area they must be returned to the water as soon as possible with a minimum of damage.

• You may carry sharks, skates or rays through a Shark Refuge Area if they were taken outside that area.


38

SHARK REFUGE AREAS

Maps of Shark Refuge AreasThe following areas are Shark Refuge Areas:

Blackman Bay: near Dunalley.

RiverDerwent:upstream of a line from Dennes Point to Cape Direction.

FrederickHenryBayandNorfolkBay(includesPittwater):all the waters of those bays north of a line from Cape Contrariety to Northwest Head.

D’EntrecasteauxChannel(includesNorthWestBayRiverandHuonRiver): between a line from Scott Point to Partridge Island and to Labillardiere Peninsula in the south and a line from Dennes Point to Piersons Point in the north.

GreatOysterBay:north of a line from Weatherhead Point on the southern end of Freycinet Peninsula to Seaford Point.

East Coast Waters: those waters within three nautical miles of any part of the coast between Seaford Point and Cape Bougainville.

MercuryPassage:bounded in the north by a line from Cape Bougainville to Cape Boullanger and in the south by a line from Cape Peron to Cape Bernier.

Georges Bay: west of a line from Grants Point to St Helens Point.

PortSorell:south of a line through Griffiths Point in the east to Taroona Point in the west at the southern extremity of Hawley Beach.

River Tamar: those waters south of a line from Low Head and West Head.


39

If a fish is under the legal minimum size it must be returned to the water even if it was dead when landed. It is illegal to use undersized fish for bait.

It is an offence to use any part of the following species for bait, including baited hooks, bait traps and rock lobster pots and rings:

• rock lobster;

• abalone; and

• any species listed as protected, including limpets (see page 68).

Only the heads and frames of the following highly valued fish species may be used for baiting rock lobster pots and rings, unless you have a receipt for purchasing the fish:

• Atlantic salmon;

• bastard or striped trumpeter;

• banded morwong;

• boarfish;

• tuna (yellowfin, bluefin and bigeye only);

• trout; and

• school, gummy, blue and mako shark.

Other fish species may be used whole to bait rock lobster pots and rings.

Recreational Baitfish SpeciesThere is no minimum size for bait fish species, including anchovies, pilchards, sprats and hardyheads. There is a possession limit of 5kg of bait fish (all bait fish species combined).

WhitebaitFor information on the whitebait fishery contact the Inland Fisheries Service on (03) 6261 8050.

Imported Bait – Be BiosecureIf you buy bait, it should be from locally supplied sources. Bringing dead or live bait to Tasmania is prohibited in most instances. Bait originating from other countries or other Australian states may contain pests and diseases that do not occur in Tasmania. Call Quarantine Tasmania on (03) 6233 3353 for more information.

If you catch your own bait, try to source it from the same area where you fish. Moving fish and fish products, including frames, offal and shells, between locations can spread diseases and marine pests.

Other BaitOnly native animals that have been lawfully taken (eg. by licensed shooters) can be used for bait. Road kill may not be used. Phone the Nature Conservation Branch Game Management Officer on (03) 6233 6556 for more information.


Anchovy Pilchard

Sprat Smallmouth hardyhead

40

BAIT

There are size and possession limits as well as gear, area and bait restrictions for scalefish. Please see the relevant sections of this guide.

Scalefish - Measuring and Handling Most scalefish are measured from the nose to the end of the tail. Get your free scalefish measuring ruler or sticker at any Service Tasmania outlet.

The exceptions are:

BandedMorwong:Nose to caudal fork

Garfish:Upper jaw to end of tail

See page 51 for information on unhooking and releasing scalefish.

Possession LimitsPersonal possession limits or on-water limits apply for each species of scalefish. Possession limits apply everywhere, including the home, so remember your catch at home counts toward your personal possession limit. Unless otherwise stated, a personal possession limit of 15 fish of one species applies. Proof of purchase is required if you have fish in excess of the possession limit.

Filleting Fish at SeaYou may clean fish at sea. For fish that have been filleted, two fillets are deemed to be the equivalent of one fish. Special rules apply for striped trumpeter and shark.

Area RestrictionsRecreational fishing is permitted in some Marine Nature Reserves. Rod and line fishing is permitted in all Research Areas however dive fishing is generally banned. No fishing in marine farming lease areas without the permission of the leaseholder. See page 27.

Safety of Seafood for Eating Heavy metal contamination in the Derwent Estuary affects the type and amount of seafood caught in the area that you should eat. The Director of Public Health advises people not to eat bream caught in the Derwent Estuary and Browns River. Limit meals of Derwent caught scalefish to no more than two per week or one meal per week for pregnant and breastfeeding women, women planning to become pregnant and children aged 6 years and younger. It is advisable to remove the gut of wild abalone, crab and rock lobster before eating the meat. See page 66 for information on eating shellfish safely.


41

SCALEFISH

Scalefish Species

Atlantic Salmon

No minimum size. No possession limit (in marine waters).

Australian Salmon

Minimum size 200mm. Possession limit 15.

BandedMorwong

Legal size between 360-460mm. Possession limit 2. Closed season 1 March - 30 April 2013.

Bastard Trumpeter


Barracouta

No minimum size. Possession limit 15.

Blue Eye Trevalla

No minimum size. On water possession limit 5. Total possession limit 8.

Blue Warehou (Snotty Trevally)


Boarfish

Minimum size 450mm (longsnout boarfish only). Possession limit 2 (boarfish species combined). No spearing.


42

SCALEFISH - SIZE AND POSSESSION LIMITS

Scalefish Species

Bream

Minimum size 250mm. Possession limit 10. No spearing.

Cod

No minimum size. Possession limit 30 (cod species combined).

Flathead

Minimum size 300mm. Possession limit 30 (flathead species combined).

Flounder

Minimum size 250mm. Possession limit 30 (flounder species combined).

Garfish


Gurnard

No minimum size. Possession limit 15. Please be careful of poisonous spines.

Leatherjacket

Minimum size 200mm. Possession limit 15 (leatherjacket species combined).


43

Scalefish Species

JackMackerel Redbait BlueMackerel

No minimum size. Possession limit 30 per species.

JackassMorwong(perch,morwong)


Mullet

Minimum size 250mm. Possession limit 15 (mullet species combined).

Pike


Silver Trevally


Snapper


Striped Trumpeter

Minimum size 500mm. Possession limit on water 4. Total possession limit 8. Must be landed whole with head and tail attached, or as fillets with the frames. Closed season 1 September - 31 October 2013.


44

SCALEFISH - SIZE AND POSSESSION LIMITS

Scalefish Species

Trout

Possession limit 15 (in marine waters). Special bag limits apply in inland waters. Refer to Inland Fisheries Code.

Tuna (southernbluefin, yellowfin,andbigeyeonly)

No minimum size. Combined possession limit 2.

Tuna - Skipjack


Tuna - Albacore


Whiting

No minimum size. Possession limit 30 (whiting species combined).

Wrasse

Minimum size 300mm. Possession limit 10 (wrasse species combined).

YellowtailKingfish


OtherScalefishSpecies

For species not mentioned above a possession limit of 15 fish of any one species applies.


female

male

45

Sharks, skates and rays are an important part of the marine environment and are particularly vulnerable to overfishing. They can easily be accidentally caught and may drown or be severely damaged. If you are not targeting sharks, skates and rays, use gear that minimises the chance of catching them. There are size, possession and boat limits and gear, area and bait restrictions for the taking sharks, skates and rays. See the relevant sections of this Guide.

Protected Species of Shark and RaysThe following sharks and rays are protected species: great white shark, Maugean skate, grey nurse, megamouth, whale and basking shark.

Shark - Size and Possession LimitsThe only shark species which have a size limit are school and gummy shark.

School and Gummy Shark

Minimum size 750mm or 450mm if headed and tailed. Combined possession limit 2.

Elephantfish


OtherSharks,SkatesandRays

No minimum size. Combined possession limit 2.

Boat Limit

There is a boat limit of five shark and rays combined. This includes all shark and ray species combined including gummy and school sharks but excluding elephantfish which aren’t included in the boat limit.


Gummy shark

School shark

Elephantfish

Mako shark

Smooth stingray

46

SHARKS AND RAYS

Shark - Measuring and HandlingYou can measure shark species either from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail or for headed and tailed shark, measure from the back gill slit to the start of the tail.

Release sharks and rays quickly and carefully if you’re not going to keep them. Do not kill them and dump them as they are an important part of our ecosystems.

Shark FinsThe dorsal and pectoral fins must remain attached to all shark until they are landed. Refer to the diagram for details of which fins you can remove to bleed the shark.

Area RestrictionsNo shark and ray fishing in Shark Refuge Areas (except elephantfish). See page 27 for a full list of area restrictions.


Broadnose Shark (Sevengill)

Port Jackson Shark

Draughtboard Shark

Whitespotted Dogfish

47

Shark Fin Removal

Dorsal fins (must not be removed)

Caudal fin (may be removed)

Sub-terminal notch

Pelvic fins (may be removed)

Pectoral fin (must not be removed)

Unless gear is specified in this section, it may not be used. Where gear must be marked with a licence number, Aboriginal fishers should use an unique identifying code as specified on page 15. The licence holder must personally set and retrieve any scalefish fishing gear and another person may assist them if needed eg. to haul the net.

Hook and Line FishingNo licence is needed to fish with a hook and line in marine waters, including rod and line, and squid jigs.

Rod and Line: You must attend the lines that you are using. You can use any number of lines with up to 5 hooks, as long as you are within 20m of the gear, or the lines are attached to the boat from which you are fishing.

SquidJigs: A squid jig is a baited or artificial lure with one or more sets of pointed hooks or spikes used to take squid. You can use up to 3 squid jigs per line.

Set Lines: A set line is an unattended line, either a dropline or a longline, with up to 30 hooks. A licence is required to use this gear and area restrictions apply. A person may only use one set line at a time. In waters more than 150 metres deep, you can join your set line to the lines of up to 3 others on your boat, provided no person uses more than 30 hooks or more than a total of 120 hooks are used. Not more than 4 set lines are permitted on a boat.

A dropline is set vertically with one end weighted and a buoy attached to the other.

A longline is set horizontally, weighted at both ends and with a buoy attached at each end.

Both longline and dropline buoys must be clearly marked with your licence number and either the letters “LL” for longline or “DL” for dropline. The buoys used must be at least 195mm in diameter.

Spear Guns and Hand Spears (includes Gaffs) Hand spears, spear guns and gaffs can be used to take squid, shark, octopus and any scalefish except bream and boarfish. Taking rock lobster or abalone with spears or gaffs is prohibited. Spears cannot be used in the Mersey, Leven, and Inglis Rivers.

TrapsThe only trap allowed is one bait trap per person. These are often used to take baitfish, crabs and prawns. The trap must comply with the following dimensions:

• no larger than 500mm x 350mm x 250mm;

• entrance not larger than 65mm; and

• mesh between 10mm and 40mm.


DL

DROP LINE

LL

LONG LINE

48

SCALEFISH FISHING GEAR

NetsNo licence is required to use landing nets, dip nets, bait nets and cast nets. You can only use one of each of these net types. A separate licence is required to use a graball net, mullet net or beach seine net.

LandingNet:A landing net is a hand-held net attached to a frame no larger than 600mm across. The mesh can be any size. It is preferable to use knotless landing nets, which cause minimum damage to the fish. You can also use a landing net to catch baitfish or prawns.

DipNet:A dip net is a hand held net attached to a frame no larger than one metre across with a mesh larger than 20mm.

BaitNet:A bait net is an encircling net:

• no longer than 6 metres and no deeper than 2 metres; and

• with mesh 20mm or smaller.

CastNet:A cast net must:

• be a circular or oval net with a leaded footline around the outside; and

• not exceed 6 metres in diameter.

How to Measure Net MeshStretch mesh until upper and lower knots touch. Measure mesh at full stretch.

Beach Seine NetA beach seine net licence is required which allows you to use one beach seine net. A beach seine net must:

• be an encircling net that does not exceed 50 metres in length;

• have a bag or bunt, and a mesh size of at least 30mm;

• not be pursed or drawn through rings into the shape of a bag; and

• be emptied while in the water.

Gillnets Graball nets and mullet nets, including those being used as a flounder net, are types of gillnet. A graball or mullet net licence is required and area restrictions apply.

• You may only use one graball and one mullet net.

• No more than 3 gillnets may be carried on, or used from a single boat.

• Gillnets cannot be set at night, other than graball nets set in Macquarie Harbour (see below). Night is defined as between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise.


G

GILL NET

49

• Gillnets may be set for up to 6 hours, except in Shark Refuge Areas where they may only be set for up to 2 hours.

All gillnets must be weighted in one of the following ways in order to prevent drift:

• a weight of at least 2 kg tied to the bottom line at each end of the net; or

• a weight of at least 4 kg tied to the bottom line at one end of the net; or

• the net has a minimum weight, when dry, of at least 13 kg for a 50 metre net.

MacquarieHarbour

• Night nets may be set in Macquarie Harbour up to 2 hours before sunset and must be removed from the water by 2 hours after sunrise. A red buoy not less than 90mm in diameter must be attached to all night nets in addition to 2 white buoys.

• Day nets may be set up to one hour before sunrise and must be removed from the water by one hour after sunset. They may be set for up to 6 hours and no red buoy can be attached.

Help protect threatened Maugean skates in Macquarie Harbour. See page 68.

MulletNet:One mullet net may be used and a licence is required. A mullet net is a single mesh net:

• mesh must be between 60mm and 70mm;

• must not be longer than 25 metres;

• must not be set over a rocky bottom or reef; and

• is a gillnet and therefore must adhere to rules relating to area restrictions, weights, night setting and marking with buoys.

Lost, Stolen and Irretrievable Gear If you leave your net in the water for longer than allowed due to bad weather, illness or theft, contact the Marine Police Fishwatch line on 0427 655 557 and provide them with your licence number.

GraballNet: One graball net may be used and a licence is required. A graball net is a single mesh net:

• mesh must be between 105mm and 140mm;

• must not be deeper than 33 meshes or longer than 50 metres;

• is a gillnet and therefore must adhere to rules relating to area restrictions, weights, night setting and marking with buoys; and

• includes flounder nets, which are a type of graball net.

Gillnet Buoys: Gillnets, including mullet and graball nets, must be marked with two white buoys that:

• are specifically designed as a buoy and float on the surface of the water;

• are at least 195mm in diameter;

• have no other markings other than the licence number and ‘G’ for graball, or ‘M’ for mullet net after the licence number.

At least one of the buoys must have the licence number clearly marked in figures not less than 70mm high and 12mm wide. It is recommended that the net be set with the marked buoy to the seaward end of the net. Additional buoys may be used for visibility.


50

SCALEFISH FISHING GEAR

Increasing Fish Survival• Minimise the time spent to land the fish

and don’t leave fishing rods unattended.

• Use barbless or circle hooks when possible to minimise hook damage.

• Where possible release fish while still in the water or minimise the time they are out of the water.

Circle and barbless hooks can increase survival rates of released fish.

Handling Fish• Return the fish to the water quickly

and gently – don’t throw it – in the area it was caught.

• Use fish-friendly landing nets with soft knot-free mesh to reduce harm to a fish’s scales, eyes and fins.

• Handle fish with wet hands or a wet cloth and don’t place them on hot surfaces or it damages their protective slime.

• Hold large fish horizontally, not by the jaw or gills.

Unhooking FishIf the fish is hooked by the mouth, tools such as de-hookers can make unhooking the fish safer and easier.

Dehooking a barracouta

If the fish has swallowed the hook, it has the best chance of survival if you cut the line and release the fish.

Retaining FishAll fish that are to be kept should be killed quickly and humanely. The best method is by spiking the fish in the centre of the head immediately behind the eyes with a sharp instrument.

Fish Waste and RubbishTake your whole catch home and dispose of the waste and shells with your household rubbish. If you clean fish at sea, dispose of fish waste away from shore in the same area you caught it.


Make your own barbless hooks by using pliers to

crush the barb

WATER

Measur

e yo

ur

catc

h

for a feed

and other fishers

the little ones back

O

nly take what you need

Thi

nk about the environ

me

nt

Gently put

51

RESPONSIBLE FISHING

If you use a gillnet, be responsible for your actions . Know and follow the netting rules-see page 49 and 27.

Netting Preparation• Check the length of the buoy lines. Too

much line is a hazard to wildlife and other boats.

• The weight bridle should be the weakest line in the net, so if it becomes snagged, the net can still be recovered.

• Don’t set your net near fast flowing waters, divers or across boating channels.

• Be aware of other net users and leave at least 50 metres between nets.

• Identify a landmark or use a GPS when setting your net so you don’t forget where it is.

Setting and Pulling the Net• Check the weather and tides so you

can safely retrieve the net.

• Check your net regularly to increase the survival of unwanted bycatch.

• Ensure the propeller is clear of any slack net or ropes.

Avoid Wildlife When Netting• Find out about local nesting sites from

the Parks and Wildlife Service before setting your net.

• Avoid setting nets where seabirds or mammals are active such as rookeries.

• Visible panels on nets are seen by seabirds so mark your net in as many places as practical.

• Monitor nets as birds may be rescued if they are seen early enough.

• Don’t set your net in rough weather conditions. Lost gillnets can continue to “ghost net” in the marine environment.

• Report interactions with protected wildlife to (03) 6233 6556.

Reducing Seal Interactions

• NEVER FEED SEALS! Never use fish for a decoy or throw fish waste to seals. This is training them to associate boats with an easy feed.

• Try to avoid areas where seals are known to interact with fishers and if a seal takes your fish move away.

• Keep noise to a minimum because seals have good hearing eg. use matting on your boat and set gear quietly.

• Seals are curious and may approach and potentially swamp vessels, so be alert and observe marine safety rules.


52

RESPONSIBLE NETTING PRACTICES

Licence: abalone licence required

Size limit: varies by species and location

Dailybaglimit:10 abalone

Possessionlimit:20 abalone

Season: open all year

LicenceA recreational abalone licence is required to fish for abalone. You cannot take abalone on behalf of another licence holder. Abalone may only be taken by hand.

Size LimitsThe minimum size for abalone varies around Tasmania for both blacklip and greenlip. The maps show the areas corresponding to the different size limits. Please note that recreational and commercial size limits may not be the same. Get your blacklip and greenlip abalone measuring gauges at any Service Tasmania outlet.

1 November 2012 - 31 October 20131 November 2011 - 31 October 2012

Blacklip abalone size limits

Greenlip abalone size limits

53

ABALONE

Measuring and Handling AbaloneAbalone are measured across the widest part of the shell. You must carry a measuring device if you are fishing for abalone. Abalone must be measured before they are detached and prior to being landed to a boat or the shore. If possible size an abalone before you remove it from the rock. If the abalone is undersized place it foot down on the rock where you found it. Do not leave abalone upside down or on a sandy bottom. Abalone that have been cut will bleed to death so care in handling is needed. Before you shuck or shell abalone, they must be brought ashore above the high water mark. Even better take your whole catch home and dispose of fish waste with your household rubbish to prevent the spread of fish diseases.

Bag and Possession LimitsFishers with a recreational abalone fishing licence have:

• A daily bag limit of 10 abalone.

• A possession limit of up to 20 abalone. This possession limit applies everywhere including the home.

If you do not have a licence you may not take abalone, however, you can possess up to 5 abalone without a receipt while on land. If you possess more than this number keep your receipts for purchases. If you don’t have an abalone licence you cannot possess abalone while on State waters.

Area RestrictionsAbalone fishing is permitted in some Marine Nature Reserves. No fishing in Research Areas (including the Bay of Fires area, see page 22) or in marine farming lease areas without the permission of the leaseholder. Closed areas and no possession zones apply in northern Bass Strait to lower the risk of AVG entering from Victorian waters (see opposite). See page 17 for a full list of area restrictions.

PublicHealthRestrictions

There are occasional restrictions on eating abalone from south east Tasmania due to toxic algal blooms. Check for current health alerts at www .dhhs .tas .gov .au/peh/alerts.


widest point

Greenlip abalone Blacklip abalone

54

ABALONE

Abalone Viral Ganglioneuritis Abalone Viral Ganglioneuritis (AVG) is a viral disease affecting the nervous system of abalone resulting in weakness and death. AVG only affects abalone and there are no human health implications from handling or eating infected abalone.

Signs of AVG

• Patches of weak or dead abalone;

• Abalone with protruding mouth parts; and / or

• Abalone with the edges of the foot curling inwards, exposing clean shiny shells.

Greenlip abalone showing the

symptoms of AVG

Closed Areas

To lower the risk of AVG entering from Victorian waters, the northern Bass Strait islands remain closed to all recreational abalone fishing.

An abalone possession exclusion area has also been declared north of Flinders and King Islands.

Recreationally caught abalone cannot be on board any vessels, other than commercial trading vessels, in the exclusion zone.

Help prevent the spread of AVG

The virus only survives a short time in the water so the most likely method of disease spread is through contact between infected abalone and healthy abalone (including offal, mucus, shells, contaminated fishing equipment or people).

• No abalone or abalone products can be brought into Tasmania from interstate.

• RETAIN all abalone waste, including shells and offal and dispose of it in land-based facilities or with your household rubbish. It is illegal to shuck abalone at sea or use abalone viscera as fishing bait.

• CLEAN and DRY all boats, fishing and diving equipment between fishing trips. This includes catch bags, gloves, knives, measuring devices, wetsuits, buoyancy vests, masks, regulators, tanks, boats and people who have come into contact with abalone. Allow equipment to dry in the sun.

• REPORT any suspected signs of AVG to the Disease Watch Hotline 1800 675 888 (24-hours).


55

Licence: rock lobster licence required

Size limit: males 110mm, females 105mm

Dailybaglimit:Eastern Region - 3 rock lobster; Western Region - 5 rock lobster; northern Bass Strait - 2 rock lobster

Possessionlimit:Eastern Region - 6 rock lobster; Western Region and mainland Tasmania -10; Rock Lobster Special Licence holders - 15 rock lobster; northern Bass Strait - 4 rock lobster

Non-licensedpossessionlimit:0 rock lobster on state waters; 2 rock lobster on land

Boat Limit: Eastern Region - 15 rock lobster (extended trips 30 rock lobster); Western Region - 25 rock lobster (extended trips 50 rock lobster)

Boat Gear Limit: 5 rock lobster pots and 20 rock lobster rings

Season: females 3 Nov 2012 – 30 Apr 2013, males 3 Nov 2012 – 31 Aug 2013

LicencesA rock lobster dive licence allows you to take rock lobster by hand, a rock lobster pot licence to use one pot and a rock lobster ring licence to use up to four rings. You must be 10 years old or older to hold a rock lobster licence. The licence holder must personally set and retrieve any rock lobster fishing gear and another person may assist them if needed eg. to lift the pot. The rules apply to both southern and eastern (green) rock lobster.

Aboriginal FishingAborigines engaged in aboriginal fishing are exempt from holding a fishing licence, but must comply with all other rules. Where gear must be marked with a licence number, Aboriginal fishers should use an unique identifying code as specified on page 15.

Special Rock Lobster Licence The holder of a recreational rock lobster licence can buy a special rock lobster licence which allows you to possess 15 rock lobster in the Western Region and on mainland Tasmania for a 14 day period nominated by the fisher. During this 14 day period, you are not allowed to fish for rock lobster in the Eastern Region. Daily bag and boat limits still apply.

SeasonsThe rock lobster season is open for:

• Female rock lobster – from 3 November 2012 to 30 April 2013.

• Male rock lobster – from 3 November 2012 to 31 August 2013.

You may only possess a rock lobster pot on state waters from 6am the day before the season opens and only set a pot after 1pm on the same day. Pots may then be pulled after midnight.

RegionsEastern Region includes all State fishing waters and islands eastward of Point Sorell and Whale Head (southern most point). This includes Flinders, Bruny, Maria, Schouten and any other islands. Western Region includes all State fishing waters and islands westward of Point Sorell and Whale Head. See map on page 60. Northern Bass Strait: see area restrictions on page 60.

Size LimitsThere are different minimum size limits for female and male rock lobster:

• Female rock lobster – 105mm.

• Male rock lobster – 110mm.

Get your rock lobster measuring gauge at any Service Tasmania outlet.


56

ROCK LOBSTER

Bag and Possession LimitsRegional and statewide possession limits apply. Eastern Region possession limits apply within 100m of unloading any rock lobster, except where the fisher’s shack or home is within the 100 metres. An extended fishing trip is where a person has fished for more than one day.

You must abide by the bag limit, the possession limit and the boat limit. On a boat with more than 5 people fishing, some fishers may need to take fewer fish than their bag or possession limit to remain within the boat limit.

A possession limit of 10 applies on mainland Tasmania, including homes, shacks and vehicles. If you do not have a licence, you cannot possess more than two rock lobster, unless you have a receipt or the rock lobster has a commercial tag. A child under 10 can not possess rock lobster and any rock lobster held by that child are deemed to be in the possession of the supervising adult.

A person with a special rock lobster licence can possess 15 lobsters during the 14 day period of the licence.

A bag limit of 2 and a possession limit of 4 apply if you are in northern Bass Strait irrespective of which region you are in.

Sexing Rock Lobster Female rock lobster:

• Have large, overlapping pleopods (swimmerets/flaps) under the tail.

• Have a small nipper claw on the end of each rear leg.

• You cannot take rock lobster in berry (with eggs) or strip the eggs. If you catch a lobster in berry, you must return it to the water as soon as possible.

Malerocklobster:

• Have small pleopods (swimmerets/flaps) under the tail.

• Have no nipper claws on the rear legs.

Measuring and Handling Rock Lobster

The length of the rock lobster’s carapace (shell) is used to measure its size:

• Spread the antennas apart and place the tip of the measure between the antennal horns so that it fits hard into the middle notch. If the other end of the measure reaches beyond the rear edge of the carapace then the rock lobster is not legal size.

• Measure your catch as soon possible and gently release undersized rock lobster from the reef area where they were taken.


57

• If you are diving, try to size up the rock lobster before taking it. Hold it around the horns and treat it gently.

Rock lobster should be handled carefully as they are quite fragile, particularly when they are in berry (with eggs) or recently moulted.

Marking Rock Lobster Rock lobster that are to be kept must be marked as follows:

• The central flap of the tail fan should be cut clear away with a cut just behind the fleshy portion. Alternatively, you can punch a 10mm hole in the central tail flap;

• If you are fishing from a boat, the tail fan must be marked within five minutes of the rock lobster being brought to the boat and before landing; or

• If you are fishing from the shore, rock lobster should be marked within five minutes of landing and within 50 metres of where you are fishing.

Eating Rock Lobster at Sea• You can cut up and eat one rock

lobster for each licence holder on a boat. This rock lobster is included in your daily bag limit.

Tagged and Specially Marked Rock Lobster• You cannot possess specially-marked

research rock lobsters, which have either two separate holes of at least 5mm in diameter in the tail fan, two coloured lines on the underside of the tail or a blue T-bar tag with the words

TAFI Research Illegal To Take (see photos at bottom of the page).

• You can keep other tagged rock lobster. See page 12 on reporting of tagged fish.

Rock Lobster Fishing Gear Pot: You may only possess and use one rock lobster pot to take rock lobster and giant crab. A person in charge of a boat must not allow more than 5 rock lobster pots to be on, or used from their boat. A rock lobster pot must:

• be no larger than 1250mm x 1250mm at base and 750mm high;

• have only one neck or entrance at least 200mm in diameter;

• have escape gaps at least 57mm high and the lower inside edge no more than 150mm up from the floor of the pot. If there is only one escape gap, it must be at least 400mm wide and if there are two, they must each be at least 200mm wide. There must be nothing obstructing the escape gap;

• not contain anything likely to entangle the rock lobster in the pot; and

• be marked with a buoy with the licence number and the letter ‘P’ for pot.

• you cannot leave your pot in the water for longer than 48 hours.

You cannot recreationally fish for rock


58

ROCK LOBSTER

lobster or have a recreational pot or ring on a commercial fishing trip. You cannot use rock lobster for bait.

RingorHoopNet: You may only possess and use up to four ring nets. A person in charge of a boat must not allow more than 20 rock lobster rings to be on, or used from their boat. A rock lobster ring is a single ring or hoop of no more than one metre in diameter, covered with mesh. If you are more than 100m from a ring, a marker buoy with the licence number and the letter ‘R’ for ring must be attached.

Rock Lobster Buoys: Rock lobster pots, caufs and unattended rings must be marked with a buoy:

• that is specifically designed as a buoy and floats on the surface of the water;

• is at least 195mm in diameter at the widest point; and

• has no markings other than the licence number (and ‘P’ if it is a pot, and ‘R’ if it is a ring) clearly marked in figures at least 70mm high and 12mm wide. No other markings on the bouy are allowed.

Additional buoys may be attached to improve visibility.

Diving: You may take rock lobster by SCUBA, surface air and snorkelling. The only aid that can be used to take rock lobster is a gloved hand. Nooses, gaffs, nets and spears can not be used for rock lobster fishing. It is illegal to possess a

crook or noose while diving, or to possess a noose on a boat unless it is being used for game fishing. Rings and pots may be used from a boat that is being used by divers.

Lines/Nets: It is illegal to take rock lobster by a hook and line or a net.

Rock Lobster Cauf: A rock lobster cauf is a device for holding rock lobster in the water. It must have a yellow buoy marked with the licence number attached. A person may only use one cauf at a time. A cauf may be used by more than one fisher, but rock lobsters held in a shared cauf must be distinguishable from other fishers rock lobster by being separated into their own compartments, each marked with the fisher’s licence number. Each fisher must have their own yellow marker buoy marked with their licence number attached to the cauf. All rock lobster in the cauf must be tail-clipped and count toward your possession limit.

Lost, Stolen and Irretrievable GearIf you leave your pot in the water for longer than allowed due to bad weather, illness or theft, contact the Marine Police Fishwatch line on 0427 655 557 and provide them with your licence number.


59

Fishing Regions and Area RestrictionsCatch limits apply in Rock Lobster Eastern and Western Regions – see map below. A separate bag and possession limit applies in Bass Strait for all waters north of a line of latitude 39°33’ (including both the Eastern and Western regions) however

the boat limit for each Region still applies. The northern Bass Strait catch limits align with Victorian limits to assist policing. Rock lobster fishing is restricted in Marine Nature Reserves and Research Areas (see page 21). No fishing in marine farming lease areas. There are also No Rock Lobster Pot areas (see next page).


Rock Lobster Fishing Regions

60

ROCK LOBSTER

No Rock Lobster Pot AreasThe use of rock lobster pots is prohibited in some Marine Nature Reserves and Research Areas as well as in the following areas:

D’EntrecasteauxChannel – with a southern boundary being a line from Scott Point to the northern tip of Partridge Island and then from the southern tip of Partridge Island south to Labillardiere Peninsula on Bruny Island and a northern boundary being a line from Dennes Point to Piersons Point.

RiverDerwent – upstream from a line from Dennes Point to Cape Direction.

Georges Bay – west of the line of longitude of the end of the training wall situated at the entrance to Georges Bay.

King Island – within 300 metres of the Blow Hole on the Eastern side of King Island.


61

Licence: scallop licence required

Size limit: commercial and queen scallops 100mm, doughboy scallops 80mm

Dailybaglimit:50 scallops

Possessionlimit:100 scallops (on land only), 50 scallops (on water)

Season: D’Entrecasteaux Channel: Closed for 2013 season

All other State waters: 23 March – 31 July 2013

LicenceYou need a recreational scallop licence to take scallops. Scallops may only be taken by hand and only the licence holder can dive for scallops. You cannot take scallops on behalf of another scallop licence holder .

SeasonThe scallop season is open from the Saturday before Easter to the end of July. The 2013 season is from 23 March to 31 July 2013 inclusive. The D’Entrecasteaux Channel season is closed for 2013.

Size LimitsThe minimum legal size limits are:

• Commercial and Queen scallops - 100mm

• Doughboy scallops - 80mm

Get your scallop measuring gauge at any Service Tasmania outlet.

Measuring and Handling Scallops• The size of the scallop is measured

across the widest part of the scallop shell. This is generally parallel to the hinge. Scallops must be measured before they are taken.

• Scallops can be shucked for immediate consumption at sea as long as the shells are retained and brought ashore. Scallops consumed count towards the daily bag limit and landing of shucked meats is prohibited.

• Take your catch home and dispose of waste with your household rubbish. Throwing waste and shells back in the water can spread fish diseases and pests.

Bag and Possession LimitsFishers with a recreational scallop licence have:

• A personal daily bag limit of 50 scallops (all species combined). This is your total catch for the day regardless of how many trips you make.

• This is also your possession limit while out on the water and only licensed fishers can possess scallops on the water.

• A possession limit of 100 scallops (all species combined) or 3kgs of scallop meat. This possession limit applies


widest point

Commercial Queen Doughboy

62

SCALLOPS

everywhere on land. This limit also applies to persons who do not have a licence unless they have receipts for purchases.

Area RestrictionsThe D’Entrecasteaux Channel has been closed to recreational scallop fishing, including possession of scallops while swimming, to protect scallop stocks and reduce the likelihood of long term closures. The D’Entrecasteaux Channel is the area bounded in the south by a line from Scott Point to the northern tip of Partridge Island, then from the southern tip of that island to the Labillardiere Peninsula and in the north by a line from Dennes Point to Piersons Point. See map on page 35. All other State waters will be open for the 2013 scallop season.

Scallop fishing is permitted in some Marine Nature Reserves and Research Areas. No fishing in marine farming lease areas without the permission of the leaseholder. See page 17 for a full list of area restrictions. Consider the water quality where you are taking scallops, particularly if you intend to eat the roe. See page 66 for more information.

Marine Safety

Many marine incidents that are reported to Marine and Safety Tasmania (MAST), involve recreational boats. Boat swampings and capsizes are occurring around the State because boaters may get into trouble when setting or retrieving their fishing gear.

Some general boating safety tips are :

• Obtain the latest and the long-range weather forecast before heading out;

• Don’t overload the boat with gear and people;

• Don’t reverse quickly after setting or retrieving the gear;

• If gear is snagged don’t tie the buoy line to your boat to tow it out;

• Make sure the buoy line is the right length prior to setting the gear;

• If you have VHF leave it on channel 16;

• Use a long boat hook to avoid leaning too far over the side; and

• Make sure your boat has sufficient buoyancy.

Weather contact numbers: South: 6233 9955, North: 6323 2555, North-West: 6498 7755 and East: 6376 0555.

For more safe boating information visit www .mast .tas .gov .au


63

SQUID AND CALAMARI• There is no minimum size for squid or

calamari.

• Possession limit of 15 Gould’s (arrow) squid and 15 southern calamari.

• In South-East waters (see map), an on-water possession limit of 10 southern calamari applies.

Area RestrictionsSee page 17 for a full list of area restrictions.

Squid and Calamari Closed AreaFrom 15 October to 14 November all waters south from Lemon Rock (south of Wineglass Bay) to the northern end of Marion Beach (south of Maria Island) and includes Coles Bay, Great Oyster Bay and the Mercury Passage are closed to protect spawning calamari.

During the closure period the taking and possession of calamari and any other squid is prohibited in this area.

OCTOPUS• There is no minimum size for octopus.

• Bag and possession limit of 100kg of octopus in all waters except Eaglehawk Bay.

• Bag and possession limit of 5 octopus in waters and on land within 200 metres of the high water mark of Eaglehawk Bay at Eaglehawk Neck.

• Octopus are usually taken by hand, gaff, line, net, bait trap or in rock lobster pots and rings, but cannot be taken by a specialised octopus pot or trap

• There are area and bait restrictions for octopus. Please see the relevant sections of the guide.


Arrow squid

Southern calamari

Octopus

64

SQUID, CALAMARI AND OCTOPUS

CRABSGiant Crabs

You need a recreational rock lobster pot licence to fish for giant crabs. Giant crabs are a deep water species occasionally caught by recreational fishers. There are seasons, size and possession limits and gear, bait and area restrictions for catching giant crab.

• The female giant crab season is from the 3 November 2012 to 30 April 2013.

• The male giant crab season is from the 3 November 2012 to 31 August 2013.

• Only crabs with a carapace length (from the front of the carapace to the back) between 150mm and 215mm can be kept.

• Female giant crabs that are in berry (with eggs) cannot be kept.

• There is a possession limit of 1 giant crab.

InshoreandOtherCrabs

For other species of crab:

• A possession limit of 15 applies to red velvet and speedie crabs;

• no size, bag or possession limits apply to other crab species eg. soldier crabs but only take what you need for a feed;

• female crabs in berry (with eggs) cannot be kept;

• specialised crab traps cannot be used; and

• one bait trap can be used but it must meet specified dimensions (see page 48).

PRAWNSPrawns are mainly caught using a dip net or landing net. Gear and area restrictions apply - see page 49. There is a possession limit of 2kg of prawns.

SEAWEED COLLECTION No licence is required when seaweed is collected for private use. There is a daily limit of 100kg per person for cast seaweed and collection is only from beaches with public access. Seaweed attached to the sea floor must not be harvested. Area restrictions may apply in Marine Nature Reserves. See page 21.


Giant crab

King prawn

Red velvet crab Speedy crab

65

CRABS, PRAWNS AND SEAWEED

The taking of limpets and elephant snails is prohibited. Licences are required for the collection of abalone and scallops and are covered elsewhere in this guide. There is no limitation on shell collecting from beaches provided that the shell does not contain the living organism, that is, it is not alive when taken.

The following species have no seasons, size or possession limits and a licence is not required for their collection, however, bag limits and area restrictions apply. Please see the relevant section of the guide.

Species Daily bag limit

Clams, cockles and pipis (species combined)

100

Wedge shells 200

Mussels 100

Periwinkles 100

Pacific oysters unlimited

Native oysters 50

Other shellfish 20 (other shellfish species combined)

Shellfish QualityEating bivalve shellfish from the wild may be a high risk activity. Think about the water quality of the area before taking and consuming shellfish. Do not take shellfish from areas near storm-water drains, marinas, slipways or waste-water outfalls or after heavy rainfall. Do not consume shellfish from the Tamar or Derwent Estuaries including Ralphs Bay. Tasmania is periodically affected by toxic algal blooms – follow any Public Health Warnings. If in doubt phone the Department of Health and Human Services hotline on 1800 671 738. For more information see the fact sheet on recreational harvesting of bivalve shellfish at www .dhhs .tas .gov .au


Clam

Cockle

MusselNative oyster

Pacific oyster

Periwinkle

66

SHELLFISH AND SHELL COLLECTION

Introduced species and marine diseases have the capacity to cause significant damage to Tasmania’s fisheries and marine environment.

There are several recognised marine pests in Tasmania including the Northern Pacific Seastar (1), European Clam (2), Asian Bag Mussel (3), European Fan Worm (4), European Green Crab (5), Japanese Kelp (6) and New Zealand Screwshell (7).

In addition to these existing pests there are a number of recognised marine pests found in Australian and overseas waters which, if introduced here, would have the potential to cause significant damage.

Help Stop the Spread of Marine Pests and Diseases Marine pests and diseases can be spread by boat owners, fishers, marine farmers, and divers. Some pests and diseases can live for days in bilge water, fishing gear, diving gear, ropes, boat hulls and even in bait. Help prevent the spread of pests and diseases:

• Do not move water, fish or fish products between locations including bait, shells and offal.

• Keep your fishing gear, dive gear and boat clean and disinfected between trips. Thoroughly clean surfaces and remove organic matter that may harbour pests and diseases and dispose of waste in land based facilities;

• Wash all gear, the boat and trailer with fresh water and detergent, away from the coast and any drains, and let it dry;

• Regularly clean and check seawater systems on your boat; and

• Do not release aquarium fish, pond fish, or plants into our waterways. This will help prevent the introduction of new pests and diseases.

Report Suspected DiseasesEarly detection is essential to controlling marine diseases. If you see the effects of suspected marine diseases contact the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment disease watch hotline 1800 675 888 (24-hours freecall). For information on AVG see page 55.

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)


67

MARINE PESTS AND DISEASES

Protected SpeciesThe following species are protected and must not be taken for any reason:

• Elephant snail (1), limpet (2), handfish (3), threefin blenny (4), pipehorse, pipefish, seahorse (5), seadragon (6), Maugean skate (7) and the great white (8), basking, grey nurse, megamouth and whale shark.

If you encounter, or even accidentally catch, a protected species you must return the animal to where you found it regardless of whether it is alive or dead.

Threatened SpeciesThere are a number of marine species that are also threatened species and are protected under the Threatened Species Protection Act 1995. Many of these are also protected nationally under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 2000. A full list can be found at www .dpipwe .tas .gov .au/threatenedspecies.

Threatened species cannot be taken without a permit for any reason, however, you may encounter, or accidentally catch, some of these species whilst fishing. If you think that you may have caught a threatened species, please return it to the water with as little damage as possible.

If it is injured or entangled in fishing gear please contact the DPIPWE Threatened Species Section and they will advise you what to do. Also contact them to report dead threatened species. Where seals, birds, whales or dolphins are onvolved, contact the Marine Conservation Program on 0427 942 537.

Maugean Skate AlertThe Maugean skate is only found in Macquarie and Bathurst Harbours and its numbers are low. This species is vulnerable to capture in gillnets and must be returned to the water as soon as possible without harm. It is clearly identifiable by the elongated shape of the snout.

DPIPWE Threatened Species Section Phone: (03) 6233 8759 Email: [email protected]

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)


68

PROTECTED AND THREATENED SPECIES

Aabalone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53aboriginal activities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15albacore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42area restrictions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17atlantic salmon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42australian salmon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Bbag limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4, 72bait . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40bait net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49bait trap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48banded morwong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42barracouta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42bastard trumpeter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42beach seine net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49blue eye trevalla . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42blue warehou . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42boarfish. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43bream . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Ccast net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49cauf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59clams. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66cockles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66cod . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43contacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71crabs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

Ddip net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49diseases. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67dropline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Ffish trap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48fishcare volunteers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11fishing gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48fishing offences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13fishwatch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13fishwise. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10, 15fishwise community grants. . . . . . . . . . . 10flathead. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43flounder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43flounder nets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Ggaff hook. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48garfish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43gear. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48giant crabs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65gillnets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49graball net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Hhand spears . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48handling fish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51hook and line fishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48hoop net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Iinland fisheries licence . . . . . . . . . . . 14, 17institute of marine and antarctic studies 12irretrievable gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50, 59

Jjack mackerel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Kkilling fish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Llanding net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49leatherjacket. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43licence fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14licence numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14licences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14long snouted boarfish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43longline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48lost gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50, 59

Mmackerel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44marine farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26marine nature reserves . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21marking rock lobster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58measuring and handling abalone . . . . . . 54measuring and handling rock lobster. . . 57measuring and handling scalefish . . . . . . 41measuring and handling scallops . . . . . . 62measuring and handling sharks . . . . . . . 47morwong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44mullet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44mullet net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50mussels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

1 November 2012 - 31 October 20131 November 2011 - 31 October 2012

69

INDEX

Nnative oysters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66net area restrictions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27net buoys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50net mesh. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49nets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48new rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5no rock lobster pot areas . . . . . . . . . . . 61no spearing areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Ooctopus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64oysters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

Pperiwinkles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66pests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67pipis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66possession limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4, 72prawns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65protected species . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Rrays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46recreational sea fishing licence . . . . . . . 14redbait . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44redmap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12releasing fish. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51research areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21ring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59river mouths and estuaries . . . . . . . . . . 18rock lobster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56rock lobster buoys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59rock lobster diving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59rock lobster fishing gear . . . . . . . . . . . . 58rock lobster pot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58rock lobster regions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60rod fishing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Sscalefish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41scalefish species . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42scallops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62seasons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16seaweed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65set line area restrictions . . . . . . . . . . . . 27set lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48sexing rock lobster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

shark refuge areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38sharks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46shell collection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66shellfish. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66silver trevally . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44size limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4, 72snapper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44snotty trevally. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42southern calamari. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64spear guns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48special rock lobster licence . . . . . . . 14, 56squid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64squid and calamari closure area. . . . . . . 64squid jigs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48stingrays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46stolen gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50, 59striped trumpeter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Ttagged fish. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12threatened species . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68traps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48trout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45tuna. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Uunhooking fish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Wwater quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41wedge shells . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66whitebait. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40whiting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45wrasse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Yyellowtail kingfish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Disclaimer: This booklet is a guide to the Tasmanian recreational fishing rules as at 1 November 2012. It does not replace the Living Marine Resources Management Act 1995 or the legislation made under it. No responsibility is accepted for the accuracy, completeness, or relevance to the user’s purpose, of the information. Those using it are advised to verify it with the relevant Commonwealth or State government department, local government body or other source and to obtain any appropriate professional advice. The Crown, its officers, employees and agents do not accept liability however arising, including liability for negligence, for any loss resulting from the use of or reliance upon the information. Fishing laws change from time to time. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are acting within the law.Acknowledgments: This guide has been compiled by the Wild Fisheries Management Branch of the Department of Primary Industries, Parks,Water and Environment. Images provided by DPIPWE, IMAS and CSIRO staff. Fish illustrations by Peter Gouldthorpe. Design and layout by the ILS Design Unit, DPIPWE.


70

INDEX

Recreational Sea Fishing InformationDPIPWE

Phone: (03) 6233 70421300 720 647 Local call costEmail: [email protected]: www.fishing.tas.gov.auVisit: Marine Board Building, 1 Franklin Wharf. HobartWrite: to Recreational Fisheries, DPIPWE,GPO Box 44, Hobart. Tasmania 7001

Recreational Sea Fishing Licences Available from: www.fishing.tas.gov.au/licence or Service Tasmania

Fishwatch – report illegal fishing – report lost, stolen or irretrievable gear

0427 655 557

Fishcare Volunteers www.fishing.tas.gov.au/fishcareNorth: (03) 6336 5474North-West: (03) 6443 8624South: (03) 6233 6208Email: [email protected]

Inland Fisheries Service 1300 463 474, or (03) 6261 8050 www.ifs.tas.gov.au

Marine Police (03) 6230 2475 or 0427 655 557

Marine and Safety Tasmania (MAST) (03) 6233 8801or www.mast.tas.gov.au

Fisheries research IMAS: (03) 6227 7277 or www.imas.utas.edu.auCSIRO: (03) 6232 5222 or www.csiro.au

Parks and Wildlife Service www.parks.tas.gov.au or (03) 6233 2270

Aboriginal fishing Details at www.fishing.tas.gov.au

DPIPWE Disease Watch Hotline 1800 675 888 (24 hours freecall)

Marine pollution and fish kills (DPIPWEEnvironment Division)

1800 005 171 (24 hours freecall)

REDMAP (unusual fish sightings) (03) 6227 7277 or www.redmap.org.au

Quarantine Tasmania (03) 6233 3352

TARFISH (recreational fishing peak body) 1300 665 225 or www.tarfish.org

Tasmanian Shellfish Quality Assurance Program / Public Health

(03) 6222 7718 or Public Health Hotline 1800 671 738

Tagged fish IMAS: (03) 6227 7277 or email: [email protected]

Weather North: (03) 6323 2555North-West: (03) 6498 7755East: (03) 6376 0555South: (03) 6233 9955www.bom.gov.au

Whale sightings 0427 942 537


71

CONTACTS

Scalefish SpeciesOn Water Possession

Limit

Possession Limit

Minimum Size

Atlantic salmon (in marine waters) - - -Australian salmon - 15 200 mm

Banded morwong (season applies) - 2 between 360-460 mm

Barracouta - 15 -Bastard trumpeter - 10 380 mmBlue warehou (snotty trevally) - 20 250 mmBlue-eye trevalla 5 8 -Boarfish (species combined) - 2 450 mmBream - 10 250 mmCod (species combined) - 30 -Elephantfish - 2 -Flathead (species combined) - 30 300 mmFlounder (species combined) - 30 250 mmGarfish - 30 250 mmLeatherjacket (species combined) - 15 200 mmMackerel (jack and blue) - 30 -Mullet (species combined) - 15 250 mmRedbait - 30 -Silver trevally - 15 200 mm

Shark – school and gummy combined (boat limit 5-all species combined) - 2

750 mm or 450 mm headed

& tailedSharks and rays – other combined, excluding elephantfish (boat limit 5-all species combined) - 2

Snapper - 5 300mmStriped trumpeter (season applies) 4 8 500 mmTuna (albacore) - 10 -Tuna (bluefin, yellowfin, bigeye – species combined) - 2 -Whiting (species combined) - 30 -Wrasse - 10 300 mmYellowtail kingfish - 5 -Species not specified above - 15 -

Other Species Daily Bag Limit

Possession Limit

Minimum Size

Abalone (licence required) 10 20 varies by regionOctopus – Eaglehawk Bay 5 5 -Octopus – other waters 100 kg 100 kg -Rock lobster (licence required, season applies)

male: 110 mmfemale: 105 mm

(Eastern Region) (Boat limit 15) 3 6 (Western Region) (Boat limit 25) 5 10 (Northern Bass Strait) (Boat limit as per region) 2 4Scallops – species combined (season applies)(on water possession limit of 50) 50 100 varies by

species & regionSquid - Southern calamari (on water possession limit of 10 in southeast waters) - 15 -

Squid – Goulds (arrow) - 15 -

QUICK REFERENCE - BAG, POSSESSION AND SIZE LIMITS

TAS Recreational Fishing Guide 2012-13

Documents

Transcript of TAS Recreational Fishing Guide 2012-13