Snapper metro are hard to get past.  Dhuie fishing very consistent. Baldies probably the biggest i have ever caught metro and I class myself as a fair fisherman not a particularly good one 

 I can only get out over the summer and Autumn months due to beach launch. 

As I mentioned Pinkies are actually a pain in the arse, and have undoubtably grown in size for the average catch, we hit schools of them out wide and get smashed by juvenilles while whiting fishing in close on the sand. So bad we are constantly having to change spots.

Evry time I get out to fish never fail for the boat to bag out whether it's Dhu, Baldies , Pinks or Black arse Usually a gummy thrown in the mix. 

But I have no doubt metro feels the pressure...

Participated a few years back but they stopped calling. 

 Absolutely MANIC fishing, six big snapper just as the sun crested Garden Island, all way over the size, we had a school of fish turning the sounder solid red in 45 metres of water. Big breaksea, massive sambos, queen snapper and dropped a BIG dhuie when it bricked us in a heavily caved reef system.  Oh but snapper are at serious risk?.........NOT 

Whitey has just posted a video explaining one way they get there data...I'm sure there will be a few others come out to back this up.

Absolute crook of shit this Green government.

 Isn't it, follow the science ha ha

I've worked for fisheries research a few times and will back Whitey's claims, been there done that.

How much damage does an iron ore ship swaying off an anchor chain do to the bottom of the ocean?

I am definitely not anti pro as I have good mates that are wetliners and I have done many trips with them and hold a commercial licence.

But I do know a very big player in the wet line/ crayfishing industry did a planned interview when returning from a wet line trip and had the deckies put all the large dhufish toward the bottom of the main ice icebox and line the top layer with small snapper and dhus to show the ABC " this is where the fishery is at and there is no larger fish left".

This was done prior to the last ban extension, I don't know whether that contributed to the "data" at the time but this pro is very anti rec fisho.

 Probably get my head chewed off for this as well but thought it was worth sharing. It's a free event and you never know might gain some insight https://www.rtbevent.com/jessica-meeuwig

Nothing more than timely spin from the scientists engaged by the Fisheries Dept to prove their desired outcome.
Wasn't it Jessica on radio a few years back telling us all about "The Last Dhufish"?

 I think I'll skip that one Andy. I just think the "science" is just so wrong that anything that flows from that is a waste of time.

 Literally haven't seen them for over two years yet with the upcoming "consultation" they suddenly appear ?.......

 My 20 cents worth that I submitted is below.

In my opinion, based on my own observations and those of many people I know, the so-called science behind the discussions on the vulnerability of West Australian dhufish and pink snapper is not what we are seeing in real life. I cannot comment on red emperor, but metro dhufish and pink snapper numbers (and sizes) are better than I have ever seen in my 20 plus years of fishing. Dhufish used to be a hard fish to catch but that is not the case in recent years. Snapper can at times be in near plague proportions and if targeting other species, it can be hard to get a bait past them. These are clearly positives for stock levels, and reflect the successful nature of fisheries management. As fishers, we cannot understand what is to be achieved by further restrictions when the current ones are working. There is a widely held view that the agenda is being pushed by vested interests such as the commercial fishing sector, and almost certainly by lobby groups who would like nothing better than to see fishing stopped entirely. The view that the "science" is flawed would be backed by anyone who fishes recreationally, which creates a very cynical group whose already eroded trust in the process has become all but non-existent. As a group we can be ignored but this issue will not go away until what we are being told makes sense.

I don't do a lot of demersal fishing but I defend and support the rights of those who do.

Demersal stocks ? Well it's kinda like a supermarket and I will add all species seem to be plentiful in all sizes.I would like to note that departing and returning to and from the same ramp for 15 + years I have only had inspectors open my ice box 3 times then close within 30 seconds and just receive a comment like we've done well,no counting or measuring by them and that's a big box full (they wouldn't have a clue what was underneath) The fisheries really only turn up on the popular long weekends in peak summer months and more often than not are more interested in riding shotgun with marine safety picking on licence stickers in the wrong spot.Never participated in any surveys or questionnaires or even been asked.

On another note almost 2 weeks ago a commercial fisherman spoke on abc country hour about the fish stocks,he's based out of the south west and said the summer just gone was by far the most Dhu fish he has seen and also I in a good range of different sizes wich indicates different generations are rebounding.He also said the reports recently released are based on data collected 3 years ago.He'd also like to see recs fill out catch records similar to the pros.Definitely interesting to have a listen 

The future fish forum is happening today,sounds like decisions have almost been made already judging by a couple of sentences the minister has used this morning.