Stickers get fishos unstuck
Fisho recently received an email from reader David regarding the use of bag and size limit stickers as issued by the various state fisheries departments. In this particular case the enquiry related to a NSW angler who had used a NSW Fisheries sticker to measure the legal length of a kingfish, an action that later almost saw him come "unstuck".
David's email:
A guy in Sydney had an education from Fisheries several weeks ago.
The story goes like this....the bloke caught a Kingy....measured it on his Fisheries sticker and it measured 65cm....happy days with one for the BBQ.
Along come Fisheries....check the bloke has a licence which he does....they then check the length of his Kingy....slight problem....Fisheries measure it at 64.1cm .....the bloke asks Fisheries to measure it on his Fisheries sticker and sure enough it measures 65cm....Fisheries let him off with a caution...it could have been a $300 fine!!!.....Fisheries advise this guy that their stickers are not a legal form of measure, it does say this in small print on the sticker....when the guy gets home he measures each sticker he has in his boat ( two of them)...the first measures 64cm at the 65cm mark and the other measures 63.8cm at the 65cm mark.
Anyway just something to keep in mind.
Fisho contacted a spokesperson from NSW I&I about this issue and received the following clarification on the use of these stickers:
Response to Fishing World magazine re rec fishing stickers, 14th January 2010.
Industry & Investment NSW (I&I NSW) provides these stickers free of charge as a service to the anglers of NSW and clearly states on the product that it is a guide only and not a legal measure of length.
The stickers are produced using the highest quality vinyl, however I&I NSW is aware the stickers may be affected if stored at high temperatures for an extended period of time, which may result in slight shrinkage.
In an effort to reduce this issue, I&I NSW will advise agents who provide the stickers to store them out of sunlight and to avoid long term storage.
In most cases the stickers will not shrink once the sticker is adhered to a hard surface such as the side of a boat, esky or tackle box.
NSW Fisheries Officers are aware that the stickers are a guide only, as clearly stated on the ruler, and provided as a service to anglers.
Anglers are able to purchase a catch measure mat which allows for accurate measuring of fish from I&I NSW, available for purchase through our website
www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/recreational/saltwater/catch-and-release/mat
These are sold at cost price for $11 each, or a pack of 5 for $33
(Editor's note: ANSA is also producing some quality brag mats for $10 plus postage.
Check out: http://www.fishingworld.com.au/news/ansa-releases-brag-mats)
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reader comments
surley no one can be fined if their catch measures up on a fisheries sticker
jeremy on 12-Jun-10 09:19 AM
If you catch good quality fish you wouldn't have to worry about the plus or minus 1-2cm. If in doubt throw em back and make sure its well past the mark at 5cm, I reckon
P'man on 25-Jan-10 08:55 PM
This smacks of a cover-up. If it were true that shrinkage was to blame, there would be a 1 or 2 cm gap at the end of the waxed paper the sticker was attached to. Fisheries need to withdraw all suspect stocks & get the manufacturer to fix their quality control.
Rick on 22-Jan-10 12:45 PM
Why have the measure on the sticker at all if it is basically useless.
Craig on 22-Jan-10 09:21 AM
Sounds like another disservice for anglers that provides a service that is incorrect, walk away and blame someone else and then tell everyone they are an inaccurate guide only. If the fishing fee money is paying for this then immediately call for a refund as the measures are not fit for purpose.
dave on 18-Jan-10 02:09 PM
Don't rely on the $11 catch and measure mat either. I checked mine and it too is out by about 1 cm at the 65 cm legal kingfish mark. Not worth buying one. Not sure what the best solution is - maybe don't keep barely legal fish as measured on the DPI stickers/mats.
Arthur on 18-Jan-10 11:25 AM
the sticker problem ius a quality control problem not a shrinkage problem, i have recently sent the proof to fisheries and have received no comment. I have the proof at www.newcastlefishing.com under the australian fishing scene topic
Steve Dial on 16-Jan-10 06:20 PM
shrinkage is not the problem the stickers are incorrectly printed eg lay a tape along the sticker variation at different lengths varies between 1 mm and 2 centimeters, quality control problem not shrinkage
steve dial on 16-Jan-10 06:16 PM
What a farce. The stickers are a great way of measuring a fish quickly before release. I wouldn't mind paying a couple of dollars for them if they were better quality and were accurate.
Josh on 15-Jan-10 11:33 PM
tell a friend
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