THE NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has warned that heavy penalties for illegal fishing apply, after a recreational fisher was caught in the Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park in possession of 49 teraglin.
DPI Supervising Fisheries Officer Lee Burdett said recreational fishers need to be reminded of the rules.
“There is a recreational bag limit of 5 for teraglin (commonly known as trag), with a minimum legal length of 38cm,” Ms Burdett said.
“The male recreational fisher we apprehended near Broughton Island in the Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park had exceeded the bag limit by almost 10 times.
“The man faces a maximum $22,000 fine and/or six months imprisonment (or both).”
Ms Burdett said teraglin reside near the ocean floor during the day, but rise towards the surface to feed at night – which is why DPI fisheries officers caught this illegal fisherman on their night patrol.
“People engaging in this type of illegal fishing activity are warned that our fisheries officers regularly patrol waters in the Port Stephens region any day of the week and at any time of the day or night,” Ms Burdett said.
“DPI fisheries officers enforce bag and size limits and anyone breaking the rules will lose their catch and risk facing significant fines or court attendance.”
The daily bag limit is the maximum number of fish that an individual angler can catch in a single day and have in their possession.
The size limit is considered as the total length measurement of a fish, whether it is fork-tailed or round tailed, is taken from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail.
The public is encouraged to report illegal fishing to the Fishers Watch Phoneline on 1800 043 536 or your local DPI Fisheries office.
A NSW DPI fisheries officer with the seized teraglin.
For detailed information on recreational fishing rules, including bag and size limits for each species, visit www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/recreational/regulations
