Saltwater Trust Allocation

2008/09 - $80,400

Freshwater Trust Allocation

2008/09 - $34,400

Aim

Collect catch and effort data from freshwater native fish and gamefish tournaments in support of resource and fishing quality assessments to assist the management of these fisheries.

Background

This project builds upon the outcomes of the Angling Research and Tournament Monitoring project (ARTM Project), which was ongoing for several years. A review of the ARTM Project recognised the two longer-term datasets (namely, gamefish and Basscatch) as being invaluable to the management and monitoring of these important recreational fisheries. Both datasets provide data on fisheries that lack information from other sources, making them important for fisheries scientists, fisheries managers and anglers.

Anglers at selected bass and other native fishing events are provided with a Fishing Report Kit, which they use to record their time spent fishing, their fishing quality perceptions and what they caught (if any). Each fish caught is measured and the length recorded. This information allows the calculation of a catch rate (number of fish caught per angling hour or trip), which can be compared from year to year and between waterways.

Data collection from gamefish tournaments differs from that of bass and other native fish fishing tournaments. Each gamefish event holds mandatory radio schedules, namely scheds, for safety reasons. Information obtained from these scheds includes: total number of boats fishing on each tournament day; where each boat is fishing throughout each day; fishing method used (i.e. trolling, drifting or anchored); and, fishing reports in the form of the number of strikes, hook-ups and catches (“0-0-0 format”). Information from scheds is combined with data collected from interviews of participating boats at the completion their fishing day to provide the required catch and effort data to support the assessment of gamefish resources such as billfish, sharks, tunas and other small pelagic species.

This project has given anglers a great opportunity to have direct input into the management of their fisheries by providing essential information for monitoring the status of these resources. NSW DPI appreciates their efforts and continuing support and the cooperation of associated fishing clubs and organisations throughout NSW.