Primary Industries and Fisheries Minister Tim Mulherin informed that fishermen would be fined if they were caught with undersized fish and crabs, fish regulated by gender and for exceeding bag limits. He also said that now more than ever, recreational fishermen need to know how to identify the fish they catch, as well as know their legal size and bag limit.
Mulherin told that if fishermen flout any rule they may suffer heavy on-the-spot fines, the maximum fine being $75,000 as determined by a Magistrates Court for possessing more than four fish regulated by gender, such as female crabs. He added that a common oversight was lack of understanding of size limits and misidentification of some species.
It is told that many recreational fishers believe all flathead species have a size limit of 30 cm and no bag limit in Queensland waters. However, the mud/dusky flathead has a legal size of between 40cm and 70cm and a bag limit of five – a change that occurred several years ago. Mulherin said misidentification also occurred with other common species, including snapper, whiting, spangled emperor, grass emperor, tusk fish and parrot fish. He opined that it was important fishers had a fish guide and accurate measuring equipment in their possession.
Queensland Boating and Fisheries Pa trol (QPFP) district officer Mathew Davidson from the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries’ (DPI&F) observed that fishermen needed to pay particular attention to rules this season surrounding fishing apparatus such as crab pots. He said that crab pots and dillies must be marked by an identifying tag bearing the surname and address of the owner. It is informed that QBFP officers will be patrolling waterways and enforcing rules and regulations over the coming months.
