EIGHT “trophy-sized” dusky flathead have so far been tagged as part of the new Lake Maquarie Trophy Flathead Fishery program in NSW.
These fish, which were tagged by well-known local anglers Steve Norris, Steve Gresham and Rodney Austin, now each sport a pink DPI tag with five numbers on it.
The DPI requests that if you catch a tagged flathead, record the numbers (a good tip is to photograph the tag), measure the fish and take note of where it was recaptured.
Send this info, along with details of the fish’s condition, what you caught it on and whether it was re-released (preferably with the tag still in position), to gamefish.tagging@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Along with St Georges Basin and Tuross Lake, Lake Macquarie is part of a program examining ways to maximise fishing opportunities in Recreational Fishing Havens for trophy-sized flathead by encouraging release of all fish over 70 cm. The quality of the general flathead fishery and the socio-economic benefits will also be reviewed as part of this initiative.
The Basin and Tuross trophy fisheries have been operating for more than a year, with over 90 fish to 96 cm tagged by local tagging teams as well as many fish documented in the angler diary program.
Stay tuned for more info on trophy fishery signs and info sheets as we head into the prime summer fishing season!
