BLOG: Should slot limits be introduced?

reader comments

• I say we should educate the pollies and introduce slot limits in return for marine parks being reconsidered.
  Ben on 23-Feb-10 08:33 PM

• I tend to agree with you here Greenie. Not sure what other fisho's do but we impose our own slot limit for conservation. We will only keep fish between 38-60cms. On a VERY tough day, and if i have very hungry people on board, we might take a fish to 65cms. No doubt with the potency of plastics for flatties, measures must be taken here locally to protect the breeders. It's sad to hear though, that QLD have recanted a little form their forward thinking management policies on Flathead. Let's hope it's not a sign of things to come!
  savvyfishing on 11-Feb-10 09:36 AM

• Slot limits make sense, but the Qld one is now changed due to a few older boys whinging- so it is now 5 fish 40-75 (not 70)- but regardless, I've caught more fish over 80 in the last 5 years than in the ten before that- and we fish for the things all the time. Slot limits are very sensible. I reckon 5 fish from 40 to 65 is about right.
  Greenie on 10-Feb-10 11:51 PM

• Tend to disagree boys. everyone wants a slot limit but all i have read is the amount of big fish that are being caught and released. I think the majority of people catching the big mummas are letting them go. I think that it would be a shame for a child or adult they fish once or twice a yr have to let a fish of a lifetime go due to a slot limit. Dont get me wrong I do plenty of fishing and catch my share of crocs over 60 cm that are all let go. I think the amount of big fish caught by people that are uneducated fishwise is very small. thanks
  Sneaky 2 on 28-Jan-10 03:34 PM

• Good responses fellas. This is obviously a topic that has genuiner emotional attachment to us fishos. Fact is, im from a linage of old skool die hard fisherman and i find it very difficult to break the cycle of "keep everythng you catch". It bugs me to no end. Even when i spout the "my kids won't have anything to catch" line, hopng for a sympethetic response, I'm met with the slight raise of the eyebrow. Really, it's up the the new generations of fishos coming through to be diligent and practise moderation. While i don't advocate a slot limit for all species, as i feel it is not relevant for every fish, species like flathead and barra need special management for future prosperity. I hope the days are gone when i go to Conjola and i drive past the infamous totum pole and see flatty heads the size of council shovels nailed to it.
  savvyfishing on 28-Jan-10 10:03 AM

• Response to Chris! You have stated that there is a good chance that your bag limit will contain some female lizards. I agree, but unfortunately there is no way of telling externally which is female and which is male. What if your catch of ten lizards were all male? Doesn't it make SENSE that at least the ones you will be releasing are definitely female!
  Con Mann on 26-Jan-10 11:41 AM

• any fish over 70 cms should be released unharmed,take a picture of it, brag to your mates about it challenge them to do the same!
  jim wallace on 25-Jan-10 09:04 AM

• A few years back I had the misfortune to witness 2 flatties measuring well over a meter being scaled and gutted on a cleaning table, They had been cought by 2 elderly gents in the upper reaches of the Manning river, When I commented that maybe the fish should have been released so that they can continue to breed the two gentelman promtly told me where I should go and what I could do with my optinion, YES I agree that these XOS fish should be released but it will take some convincing for some of the old school fisho's.
  Paul Dove on 23-Jan-10 11:20 PM

• I regularly catch flaties over 70 cm and always let them go. however I also love fishing in competitions and dread the day when these will be decided by who is lucky enough to catch the closest fish to 70cm without going over that mark ?
  RC on 23-Jan-10 08:29 PM

• I don't see what the specific advantage of slots is when there are tight bag limits in place. for example, should it be okay to take 10 lizards, say, in the 60 - 70 cm size, with probably more than half being females (breeders) and be forced to return the one or two you might get that are over 70 cm because we know they are breeding females? I don't se the logic in having to release one 'breeder' of over 70 cm when I can keep up to 10 'breeders' below 70 cm.
  Chris on 23-Jan-10 05:48 PM

• Many times I have witnessed big Flathead being caught and kept in Lake Macquarie. I totally agree with the slot system. You don't need the fish to brag a photo and measurement is all you require. Let the big females go to breed so generations to come can enjoy what we are now. As mentioned earlier the small fish are the best for the table.
  Dennis Garside on 23-Jan-10 11:25 AM

• i think there should be a limit of max size to all fish caught to protect the breaders
  steve smith on 22-Jan-10 04:29 PM

• exactly my thoughts. It' a great proactive management plan that still allows good fish to be taken for thetable, but the trophy fish to be released. While this is a goodmanagement plan for flatties, do you think this should be implemented for all species, or only Protandry fish (beginning life as a male and then changing to female)
  savvyfishing on 22-Jan-10 04:27 PM

• Agree with slot limits. Catch a big one. Take a photo, and release to breed again. Our future stocks, depend on her, i.e. the majority, being females. The legal smalls, are of course, the best eating.
  Les Parsons on 22-Jan-10 02:54 PM

• Slot limits make a lot of sense. The big lizards are almost exclusively females. the bigger the fish, the more eggs she produces. Due to growth rates, the current minimum size protects 95% of males but only 5% of females (http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/237794/WF-2008_Output-1053_Gray-et-al_Dusky-Flathead-Final-Report_REPORT.pdf). adding an upper limit would protect a higher proportion of females meaning more pansized flatties for next year.
  Rick on 22-Jan-10 12:33 PM

tell a friend

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