For it all to blow over
recreational anglers, many believing that the fishery had closed for the remainder of the year.
Correspondence from Fisheries Queensland on Wednesday of this week confirms otherwise.
The black jewfish currently remains an eligible catch for all Queensland east coast recreational anglers and some commercial fishers in selected Queensland east coast waters.
Fisheries Queensland is crystal clear with the current status of black jewfish within Queensland all waters.
“There is a total allowable commercial catch (TACC) for black jewfish of 20 tonnes on the east coast and 6 tonnes for the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Once the TACC has been reached, black jewfish become a no-take species for both commercial and recreational fishers for the remainder of the quota season.
The east coast TACC of 20 tonnes is divided into five management regions.
The annual catch limits for black jewfish in east coast inshore management regions 3 and 4 have been reached.
Black jewfish is a no-take species for commercial fishers in those regions for the rest of 2022.
East coast inshore management regions 2 and 5 remain open.
Recreational fishers, includ
ing those on charter fishing trips, can continue to take black jewfish on the east coast until the total annual catch limit of 20 tonnes has been reached.
Fisheries Queensland continues to monitor the catch of black jewfish and will inform all fishers when the annual catch limit has been reached.” Anglers are reminded to observe regulations surrounding the take of black jewfish.
The species is protected by a 1 fish in-possession limit or 2 fish boat limit when 2 or more people are on board.
Additionally, a 75cm minimum size limit protected black jewfish on the Queensland east coast while fish caught in the Gulf of Carpentaria are protected by a 60cm minimum size restriction.
Fish must be retained whole while on the boat.
ESCAPE TO RIVERS AND CREEKS
With winds possibly reaching Strong Wind Warning status tomorrow and light to moderate rain spells expected to stretch into the new week, creeks and rivers within the greater Townsville area are likely to receive plenty of angler attention.
The rain will do no harm to crabbing efforts with muddies and an occasional blue swimmer likely catches when pots are set in the Barrattas system, Morrissey’s Creek or the
Haughton River.
Mick Meiers of Alligator Creek says the crabbing is as good as he has seen in the Townsville and Burdekin region for many years.
Meiers attributes the extended crabbing season to late rains and slightly warmer than usual winter water temperatures, the experienced game fisherman and crabbing enthusiast and a mate keeping a dozen big buck mudcrabs last weekend.
And Meiers said the crabs weren’t so fussy about the baits used either, his haul taken on the frames of longtail tuna and queenfish.