Variable legal size limits.

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colnick
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Variable legal size limits.

Post by colnick » Thu May 10, 2018 2:38 pm

Recent posts from Re-tyred and others about legal flathead sizes had me wondering why there is so much variation between states for the same species.
For example, in NSW dusky flathead minimum is 36cm, other flathead 33cm; In Victoria, duskies are 33cm, others 27cm. On the other hand, all bream in NSW are 25cm compared to 28cm in Victoria. There doesn't seem to be any real reason to account for the variations, which no doubt exist for some other species as well. To me, a 27cm flathead looks ridiculously small and, conversely, I feel pretty guilty taking home a 25cm bream which has swallowed the hook in NSW.
Could be time for some interdepartmental discussions towards more uniformity?

Cheers Col.

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Re: Variable legal size limits.

Post by colnick » Thu May 10, 2018 2:42 pm

Oops! Got that wrong. Duskies in Vic legal at 30cm. That is small.

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Re: Variable legal size limits.

Post by purple5ive » Thu May 10, 2018 2:48 pm

Duskies are minimum 30 and maximum 55cm in victorian waters.

Id say possibly due to the growth rates varying in different states is why the have different legal sizes.

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Re: Variable legal size limits.

Post by Mattblack » Thu May 10, 2018 2:55 pm

Make things a lot easier all fish were all 30cm minimum

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Re: Variable legal size limits.

Post by frozenpod » Thu May 10, 2018 3:09 pm

Mattblack wrote:Make things a lot easier all fish were all 30cm minimum

What about species that don't grow bigger than 30cm?

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Re: Variable legal size limits.

Post by Mattblack » Thu May 10, 2018 3:35 pm

frozenpod wrote:
Mattblack wrote:Make things a lot easier all fish were all 30cm minimum

What about species that don't grow bigger than 30cm?
Throw them back...be great to see the ecosystem recover one day

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Re: Variable legal size limits.

Post by frozenpod » Thu May 10, 2018 4:13 pm

Mattblack wrote:
frozenpod wrote:
Mattblack wrote:Make things a lot easier all fish were all 30cm minimum

What about species that don't grow bigger than 30cm?
Throw them back...be great to see the ecosystem recover one day
The ecosystem is sustainable, protecting the habitat and water quality is key to fish recruitment and future fish stocks.

Based on your 30cm rule you would be throwing back pretty much all bait fish, gars, silver whiting, most squid, most PPB Sandflathead, Tommy Rough, EP's, Bass, Luderick, Trevalley, Yakkas, Flounder and a bunch of others I have forgotten.

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Re: Variable legal size limits.

Post by cheaterparts » Thu May 10, 2018 4:34 pm

frozenpod wrote:
Mattblack wrote:
frozenpod wrote:
Mattblack wrote:Make things a lot easier all fish were all 30cm minimum

What about species that don't grow bigger than 30cm?
Throw them back...be great to see the ecosystem recover one day
The ecosystem is sustainable, protecting the habitat and water quality is key to fish recruitment and future fish stocks.

Based on your 30cm rule you would be throwing back pretty much all bait fish, gars, silver whiting, most squid, most PPB Sandflathead, Tommy Rough, EP's, Bass, Luderick, Trevalley, Yakkas, Flounder and a bunch of others I have forgotten.
Pillies - white bait most slimmies for bait - and just to point out a 27 cm flat head makes 2 great strip baits for snapper
My kayak PBs
Gummy shark 128 Cm - Elephant fish 85 Cm - Snapper 91 Cm - KG Whiting 49 Cm - Flathead 55 Cm - Garfish 47 Cm - Silver Trevally 40 Cm - Long Tail Tuna 86 Cm - snook 64 Cm - Couta 71 Cm - Sth Calamari 44 Cm hood - Cobia 117 cm


Cheater

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Re: Variable legal size limits.

Post by Mattblack » Thu May 10, 2018 4:41 pm

Yep...chuck ‘em back. Squid arnt fish so they don’t count & they are great bait (& quite frankly, they have a shitty attitude, they even eat each other).

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Re: Variable legal size limits.

Post by re-tyred » Thu May 10, 2018 5:03 pm

cheaterparts wrote:
frozenpod wrote:
Mattblack wrote:
frozenpod wrote:
Mattblack wrote:Make things a lot easier all fish were all 30cm minimum

What about species that don't grow bigger than 30cm?
Throw them back...be great to see the ecosystem recover one day
The ecosystem is sustainable, protecting the habitat and water quality is key to fish recruitment and future fish stocks.

Based on your 30cm rule you would be throwing back pretty much all bait fish, gars, silver whiting, most squid, most PPB Sandflathead, Tommy Rough, EP's, Bass, Luderick, Trevalley, Yakkas, Flounder and a bunch of others I have forgotten.
Pillies - white bait most slimmies for bait - and just to point out a 27 cm flat head makes 2 great strip baits for snapper
The size limits are the minimum. You can be like me and only take fish that are good eating size. 3cm for Flatties, pinkies and bream is my limit.

As frozen said it is all about the environment and water quality. We can all do our bit as far as rubbish and pollutants go, but we can also lobby fishing clubs and gov to restore intertidal zones where possible and make new ones in some areas. Constantly harass them about storm water run off and buffer zones of trees and swamps around water ways. If we build the ecosystem to a healthy level then the fish will breed faster.
Re different state limits that will be a thing of the past one day, but lots of politics to be done first.
There's nothing . . . absolutely nothing . . . half so much worth doing as simply messing around in boats.
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