Understanding Bag Limits Gascoyne Region

Hi all,

I have done a bit of search and Im still a little confused about the bag limits. Myself and 5 other mates are taking 2 boats up to Coral Bay in Nov ( bit of luck the wind gods will be on our side) otherwise just be fishing the inside of the reef of good days. After reading the through the WA Fisheries Rec guide for the region I would just like confirmation that, if I had 3 licenced anglers on board does that mean we could catch 21 high risk species (keeping to fish bag limits) or is there a boat limit I havent found and read yet. I doubt it very much we will catch that much anyway.

 

Hope this is not a stupid question, I just want a sound understanding befor heading up there.

 

Cheers.

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sea-kem's picture

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That's the way I read it.

Thu, 2011-09-01 12:23

That's the way I read it. Just becareful of individual specie limits IE Coral trout 1 per person etc. The one that got me was that there's no size limit on Rankin Cod that we could find. Meant to ask fisheries on that one when we saw them but forgot. Also your 20kg per person limit on fillets.

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I think rankin cod are the

Mon, 2011-09-12 21:10

I think rankin cod are the same as estuary cod - 400mm?

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MattMiller's picture

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Yep,

Thu, 2011-09-01 12:25

7 high risk in the correct combination of bag limits for the species caught.

Then obviously the 20kg per person possession limit.

Aaron Santos's picture

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Cheers boys. It seems like a

Thu, 2011-09-01 13:24

Cheers boys. It seems like a lot of fish though if you actually bag out.

Not sure if my esky would be big enough. (dont like my chances of testing it anyway) 

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Just a note to be careful on

Thu, 2011-09-01 13:40

Just a note to be careful on is transporting fish from one bioregion to another. You have to observe the rules in the region in which you get checked.

Ie you cannot bring snapper from Sharkbay to Perth during the Demersal 5 banor any other species associated with the ban.

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smash's picture

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curious about this?

Tue, 2011-09-06 01:03

Ive heard this before but not seen it written, and its not enforceable anyhow it would seem?

Fish only have to be landed skin on, not stored. Only have to be labelled with owner not species?

And this would mean that any rec caught HRD fish left in your Perth freezer would need to be disposed of on Oct 15?

 

Looked in the West Coast rules and didnt see it but might have missed it?

 

I know all this has been debated before though.

scottnofish's picture

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you can if theuy

Tue, 2011-09-06 09:51

are filleted and labled

sea-kem's picture

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The bag limit is quite

Thu, 2011-09-01 19:34

The bag limit is quite generous I think. We came back from Gnaraloo with 14kg each and believe me that's heaps.

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Quobbarockhopper's picture

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as long as you have the

Tue, 2011-09-06 08:15

as long as you have the fillets appropriately labelled (weights/ dates etc) Im pretty sure you can transport fish from up north during the demersal ban...

 

logic says that if you have evidence that you have ben holidaying up north (towing the boat/ hotel bookings/ other receipts etc), you should be able to prove where you caught them "beyond reasonable doubt"...

 

although, fisheries dont always adhere to logic, but I think they would have a hard time making it stand up in court (if it came to that) if they tried to issue a fine...

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I would need to check the

Mon, 2011-09-12 21:14

I would need to check the legislation, but it may be a case of the onus of proof being on the angler? not the prosecution?  Ring (or better email) fisheries and get a written response!

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Guys this was discussed

Tue, 2011-09-06 11:15

Guys this was discussed previusly on this thread.

http://fishwrecked.com/forum/can-someone-clear-me

By rights you are breaking the law if you transport pink snapper from Shark Bay to Perth during the ban.

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null

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hearsay

Tue, 2011-09-06 11:39

I don't really pay the value of something that someone that used to work for fisheries says.

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smash's picture

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yeah not clear cut

Tue, 2011-09-06 19:04

It appears to say that you abide by the rules in the zone you are in-but Im not aware of any zone that has a rule saying you cannot possess a particular fish-only that you cannot land that fish. Possessing is not landing.

 

So for me Im pretty comfortable to skin and name-label my (say) pink snapper after landing them up north and transport home down south in my vehicle.

I cant for the life of me see how (without any other conflicting evidence) they would justify a $300 odd DNA test on each fillet to see what they were.

 

Im also comfortable not to throw out my rec caught fish thats uneaten by 15 Oct.

Aaron Santos's picture

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I have spent a bit of time

Tue, 2011-09-06 18:03

I have spent a bit of time searching the net for an answer about bringing fish from a different bioregion into the west coast region during the ban. I have read through a lot of the the material on  www.fish.wa.gov  but it doesnt shead a lot of light on the situation or give you an exact answer. Doing a google search though I found this which was published on www.fishforthefuture.com.au  in 2009.

Can I bring demersal scalefish taken in other regions (such as Shark Bay pink snapper) into the West Coast Bioregion during the two-month demersal scalefish closure?

Demersal scalefish taken outside of the West Coast Bioregion may only be transported by land or air into the West Coast Bioregion during the two-month closure. You cannot transport or be in possession of demersal scalefish in the waters of the West Coast Bioregion during the closure.
Can commercial fishers fish during the recreational closure? Yes. The commercial sector is already being managed through other restrictions to its catch target. These commercial restrictions include annual limits on the amount of time that boats can fish and a prohibition on fishing for demersal scalefish in the metropolitan area.

Unsure if it is still up to date I have emailed it the head office of to see if there is any truth in it.

 

I will keep yas posted and let you know if  or when I get a reply.

 

 

 
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Have a read of page 23

Wed, 2011-09-07 07:10

Have a read of page 23 "Understanding the Rules"

Here is the extract:-

 

Each of the four biological regions (bioregions) in WA has its own

suite of fishing rules, although some rules such as possession

limits and legal sizes may apply Statewide. If you transport fish

across a regional boundary, the rules that apply are those which

relate to the bioregion in which you are checked by a Fisheries and

Marine Officer – not the bioregion in which you caught the fish.

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Aaron Santos's picture

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I have read that mate and Im

Wed, 2011-09-07 09:31

I have read that mate and Im not disagreeing with you but it still leaves a lot of loop holes for miss understanding. especialy when you read what is put on page 14

 

The take or landing of demersal scalefish (listed on page 5) is

prohibited within the West Coast Bioregion during the closed

season. If you catch a demersal scalefish from a boat or from

shore in the West Coast Bioregion during the closed season

you must return it to the water as soon as possible.

 

Nothing is said about being in possesion of the fish. So if you can proove you didnt catch it in the west coast bioregion, and all your catch is labeled and dated, my understanding would be you dont have any questions to answer. you havent broken any laws.

Still Im not saying Im or your right or wrong I just would like to know for sure to clarify this question and put it to rest.

Hopefully the Fisheries will reply to my email.

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You need to determine exactly

Mon, 2011-09-12 21:18

You need to determine exactly what the boundries are (ie what has been gazetted?)  it may be a case that the boundries only cover the waters and not the land.

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fishy fingers's picture

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heres a question

Wed, 2011-09-07 07:29

does the relevant bioreigion in question cover the land or just the sea in other words are you in a "bioregion"

if you are 1oo k's from the ocean or dooes it stop at the beach making the transporting across a regional boundry

null and void and only applicable to the boundaries on the ocean.

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I would have thought the

Wed, 2011-09-07 09:32

I would have thought the demersal ban is on fishing for the 5 over the 2 month period, not possesion or transportation?? Sounds like a load of technical bulls**t. If i was to have frozen dhufish caught a month prior to the ban and was transporting it to a friends house for a bbq during the 2 month ban would i be in breach of the "rules"? 

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legislation

Wed, 2011-09-07 20:28

As for your original question, going out for the day with 3 licenses in the Gascoyne entitles you each to a day's bag limit which is 7 category 1 fish.

Just for the record.  If you take the advice of anyone on this forum and it is wrong, you will still be prosecuted even if you say someone told me otherwise.  It pays to get advice from fisheries officers or go into their office and get a definite ruling so you don't have to worry.

 

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Aaron Santos's picture

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Hi all.I had a phone call

Thu, 2011-09-08 09:42

Hi all.

I had a phone call from the fisheries today regarding my question about bringing demersals into west coast bioregion from another region during the ban.

He said (I wish i wrote his name down now but anyway,) he said you can not land any demersals in the west coast bioregion during the ban, or have any demersals on board while on the water. And you can not transport any demersal fish in the WCB waters during the ban. If you have been fishing outside the WCB and you travel back into it you are limited to having 2 whole high risk fish which is what is stated on page 5 of the brouchure in your possesion. If the fish have been filleted then it is your 20 kg of fish fillets limit. You may have to show some kind of proof that you have caught the fish out of the WCB but usually common sence provails when your All loaded up and the fillets are froozen. . also make sure there labeled and dated correctly.

 

Not sure if this will put the subject to rest but if your still unsure drop the guys an email or give them a call to here it first hand from them.

Cheers to the Fisheries for the quick reply and answer. 

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MattMiller's picture

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Good stuff Aaron

Thu, 2011-09-08 09:47

that's basically how i understood it. Just use some common sense. Bag and label your fish correctly and have a paper trail of where you've been and you shouldn't have a problem.

 

just dhu it's picture

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bits and pieces

Mon, 2011-09-12 21:06

Aaron dont forget that your possesion limit of 20 kgs also includes any fish heads, wings and other off cuts you have in your freezer

Aaron Santos's picture

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Cheers mate. noted. but i

Tue, 2011-09-13 22:04

Cheers mate. noted. but i dont think the wings will make it past the BBQ. mmmmm love the wings with bit of salt and pepper seasoning

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sea-kem's picture

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Too right just dhu it we made

Mon, 2011-09-12 21:14

Too right just dhu it we made up some of our limit with huge Red Emp wings other guys were throwing out. Damned if I would let them go to waste

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A bit of advice,  always

Sat, 2011-09-17 18:15

A bit of advice,  always check with Fisheries if in doubt, and ask for it in writing,  eg which brochure or what internet site.  Not worth getting pulled up,  there is always roving fisheries patrols around now.