Holy mackerel, that
THE boat resembled a crime scene. There was blood from stern to bow and port to starboard, but Geoffrey Porter and sons Lachlan, 15, and Samuel, 13, all wore smiles of wicked satisfaction.
The trio had found a school of hungry mackerel, mostly of the spotted and doggie varieties, yet there was enough doubt about a few lost close to the boat that suggested a flavour of grey or broad barred mackerel might have also been evident.
Casting and retrieving 20gram metal jigs fooled the mackerel one after another when they fished within the Sea Channel wide of Magnetic Island’s Arthur Bay on Tuesday morning.
Seas were slight, waters discoloured and winds of a southwesterly influence – apparently perfect conditions for a mackerel-fest!
The tasty speedsters tore light line from little Shimano brand threadline reels and the challenge was not only keeping the hooks firmly in place, but steering the mackerel from the jaws of hungry whaler and hammerhead sharks.
Lachlan was unlucky pulling the hooks free of an enormous trevally after the fish had cleared a shipping channel pylon and seemed happy enough to slug it out deep in the bowels of the shipping channel.
Meanwhile, Sammy was all smiles releasing a couple of legal-size largemouth nannygai that each gave a good account on light line.
The Porters had already stowed nine mackerel between them in the icebox, released many more and figured keeping fish just for the sake of the exercise was nothing more than overkill.
ILLEGAL FISHING
The last weeks of September are known by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to be of high-risk for non-compliance within the marine park and accordingly, the authority is set to ramp up compliance patrols immediately.
Declared a component of an ongoing effort to deter illegal fishing and help protect the marine environment, day and night patrols are expected to stretch across the greater marine park throughout the coming weeks.
GBRPMA director for operations Chris Cochrane said compliance patrols in the air and in the water could detect illegal activity, even at night and in remote areas.
“Late September is a known high-risk period for non-compliance in the marine park, and fishers are reminded to know the zoning rules to avoid fines of $2200 for fishing in no-take areas,” he said.
Modern technology is on the side of marine park officers with thermal surveillance capability enabling illegal fishing activity to be captured from a distance at night.
“We can detect fishers who perceive low light conditions as an opportunity to fish illegally, and those fishers intentionally fishing at night and in remote locations in no-take zones are getting caught,” Mr Cochrane said.
“Investment into our compliance program means there are more staff, better boats, and better technology which has led to more effective patrols.”
Mr Cochrane cited a recent example where local anglers were caught out by a nighttime compliance patrol while fishing a no-take (Green) zone south-west of Cape Tribulation under the cover of darkness – about 8pm.
The GBRPMA urges anglers to brush up on the rules surrounding use of the marine park and the zones within.
Zoning maps are available online or at most boating and tackle outlets while some might choose to download the free Eye on the Reef app.
Find further information on the GBRMPA website: www. gbrmpa. gov. au/ accessand-use/zoning/zoning-maps
A BEAUTY BARRA BASH
The Hinchinbrook Channel was kind to competitors of last week’s Townsville Game Fishing Club Barra Bash, large numbers of barramundi delighting organisers.
The annual catch and release tournament, largely a team event, was well contested with only 20 points separating Champion and Runners-up Teams while a member of the third placed team claimed the largest barramundi at a staggering 120cm long.
Team ‘Catch 22’ comprising of Ben Mathiesen, Matthew