Teach a child to fish and they may discover a lifelong passion

This holiday season, why not give the gift of fresh air, sunshine, and the excitement of that first catch?

A fishing rod under the Christmas tree might be all it takes to spark a passion for your child and create lifelong memories of enjoying Queensland’s great lifestyle.

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner said family fishing trips were a great way to spend the summer, but it was important to know the rules and fish sustainably.

“If your family is planning a fishing trip this summer, make sure you know the rules to ensure future generations can enjoy fishing, too,” Mr Furner said.

“Everybody should familiarise themselves with the relevant rules that apply, including size and possession limits, how to correctly measure fish, fishing gear restrictions and closed seasons.

“It’s important that Queenslanders identify their catch to ensure they comply with the size and possession limits for the correct species.

“Always carry a fish identification guide or download the Queensland Fishing app. The app already has more than 50,000 subscribers.

“Fish that look similar can be different species with different rules.

“If you can’t ID it, free it.”

Fishing tips and responsibilities:

• Follow size and possession limits
• Use a ruler to measure fish and a crab gauge to measure crabs
• Use the Qld Fishing 2.0 app or visit https://www.fisheries.qld.gov.au/ to identify your catch
• Be gentle with your catch to give it the best chance of survival in case it needs to be released
• Only use legal fishing gear
• Avoid touching crab apparatus that isn’t yours.

Report any suspected illegal fishing activity to the Fishwatch hotline on 1800 017 116.

For more information on Queensland fishing rules, visit www.fisheries.qld.gov.au, call 13 25 23 or download the free Qld Fishing 2.0 app from Apple and Google app stores.

ENDS

Media contact:           Ron Goodman            0427 781 920