Fishers to land the right catch with new boating and fishing guides

Recreational fishers can have the latest information at their fingertips to help them land the right catch with the release today at the Brisbane Boat Show of two new guides.

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said the new Queensland Recreational Boating and Fishing Guide 2018-19 edition featured up to date information on Queensland’s boating and fishing rules and regulations for the tens of thousands of anglers who enjoy recreational boating and fishing.

“The guide provides detailed information on boating rules, fish size and possession limits, what fishing apparatus can be used and closed seasons and marine park rules so that fishers can easily comply with the rules and keep our waterways as safe as possible for all users,” Mr Furner said.

“All fishers should get a copy of the Queensland Recreational Boating and Fishing Guide 2018-19 edition to ensure they are across the current rules.”

Mr Furner said the new Queensland Tidal and Freshwater Fishing Pocket Guide was the perfect companion to the Queensland Recreational Boating and Fishing Guide 2018-19 edition.

“This cleverly designed two-in-one pocket guide has handy information for freshwater and tidal fishers printed back-to-back in the one convenient booklet,” Mr Furner said.

“The pocket guide gives useful information on species size and possession limits, colour images for most species, fish release tips, measuring your catch and rules and requirements for fishing gear, and will be as valuable as the right bait and tackle when planning your next day on the water.”

Mr Furner said the covers of both the Queensland Tidal and Freshwater Fishing Pocket Guide and the Queensland Recreational Boating and Fishing Guide 2018-19 edition featured the winning entries from a competition run by Fisheries Queensland in May 2018.

“Local anglers submitted photos of themselves with their catches and judges had a difficult time choosing the winning entries,” Mr Furner said.

“The cover of the freshwater guide shows Adrian Tuck releasing a jungle perch he caught in a remote rainforest creek in Far North Queensland while the tidal water cover shows Anthony Dickson with a snapper he caught off the Redcliffe Peninsula.

“The cover of the Queensland Recreational Boating and Fishing Guide 2018-19 edition shows Riley Woods with a barramundi he caught at Proserpine’s Peter Faust Dam, one of Queensland’s 63 stocked impoundments.”

Copies of the guides will be available at bait and tackle stores, local Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol and Maritime Safety Queensland offices or can be ordered through the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Customer Service Centre on 13 25 23.

A digital copy of the guide will also be available to download from the Fisheries Queensland website www.fisheries.qld.gov.au.

Queensland’s recreational fishing rules and regulations are also available on the free ‘Qld Fishing’ smartphone app from Apple and Google app stores and online at www.fisheries.qld.gov.au.

An upgraded recreational fishing app will be available before the end of the year and will allow fishers to identify fish using photo recognition, use an interactive mapping function to identify different zones, report illegal fishing activity and view permits.

Follow Fisheries Queensland on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@FisheriesQld).

Media: Brock Taylor - 0427 018 178