Popular fishing FADs hit the North Coast

Note: This content is stored on an archive website and may not be current or accurate. Contact us to clarify.

To enhance offshore recreational fishing, the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is currently reinstalling six fish aggregating devices (FADs) along the north coast.

NSW DPI Program Manager Heath Folpp said the FADS will begin being re-installed off Ballina, Evans Head, Wolli, Coffs Harbour, South West Rocks and Port Macquarie on Monday 8th October (weather permitting).

"The FADs can act like magnets for mahi-mahi or dolphin fish and even marlin, creating offshore ‘meccas’ for the fishing community seeking a quality fishing experience." Mr Folpp said.

FADs are yellow buoys, marked with a cross and navigation light on top, that are moored to the ocean floor. They are installed between 6 and 32 kilometres offshore from October to June and are removed for maintenance during winter months.

"The FADs program is just one of many excellent initiatives funded by the Recreational Fishing Trusts. This is another good example of fishers licence fees being put back into the water to improve recreational fishing in NSW."

"Fishers are always very pleased when the FADs go back in the water as they provide great opportunities for recreational fishers to target fast growing pelagic fish species like mahi mahi. Fishing close to FADS has become an increasingly popular pastime along the NSW coastline, since they were first installed in 2002 and I hope the trend continues."

"DPI will continue to redeploy the 21 FADs distributed along the NSW coast during the next two months," he said.

FADs are thought to act as a reference point for schools of surface-dwelling fish such as mahi-mahi that can often be found around them.

Funds raised from the recreational fishing licence fee are placed into two trusts, one for saltwater and one for freshwater, and can only be spent on projects to improve recreational fishing in NSW.

For more information about FADs or the Recreational Fishing Trusts go to: http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/recreational/saltwater-fishing/fads

Note: Photo opportunities can be arranged

Email: